It's Now Or Never
Final Hostage Deal Talks Begin in Cairo - Will Hamas Break?
Critical negotiations for Israeli hostages commence in Cairo with Trump envoys joining talks. Hamas faces pressure to reach agreement as families await breakthrough in final-stage discussions.
Israel has affirmed its commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, as crucial negotiations are set to begin in Cairo this week.
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Coordinator for Captives and Missing Persons, delivered a message of resolve to the hostage families on Sunday night, assuring them of the negotiating team's dedication as they head into what are widely considered the final stages of talks.
"Tomorrow we set out for negotiations to bring back all our loved ones who are held hostage - both the living and the fallen - with commitment and determination," Hirsch wrote to the families. He promised to maintain contact with them "as much as possible" throughout the process.
Trump Envoys Join High-Stakes Talks
The renewed diplomatic push in the Egyptian capital is marked by a palpable sense of urgency and high-level American involvement. Hamas’s delegation arrived Sunday evening, and U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to join the talks on Tuesday.
An Israeli official underscored the gravity of the American participation, telling The Jerusalem Post, "Trump’s envoys... are not coming to play games."
The expectation from both Israeli and mediating sources is that a breakthrough, or a total collapse of the talks, will happen quickly.
"We’ll know very quickly, by the end of the week, whether Hamas is heading toward a deal or not," the Israeli official added.
Sources familiar with the details expressed optimism, with one mediator suggesting a deal could be reached "within a few days." Another Israeli official commented on the pressure facing Hamas: "Hamas understands it doesn’t really have a choice. It needs to agree."
The urgency of the moment was reflected in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, where families recently unfurled a massive banner with a direct appeal to President Trump: “It’s Now or Never.”