Gaza peace plan: Trump meets former Hamas hostage; Hamas negotiators warn hostage-release deal under threat due to…

Trump Gaza Peace Plan: Israel and Hamas held indirect talks in Egypt on Tuesday on the second anniversary of the October 7 attack which triggered the Israel-Gaza war, even as US President Doland Trump met a former hostage of Hamas, and the family of a slain Israel Defence Force (IDF) member in the Oval office.

Trump meets released hostage, slain IDF member’s family

According to the White House, Trump on Tuesday (local time) met Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, and the family of Omer Neutra, an IDF member killed by Hamas shortly after the attacks in Gaza, and reiterated his commitment to securing the release of all Israeli hostages from Hamas’ captivity.

“Today, on the second anniversary of the October 7 attack, President Trump welcomed Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, and the family of Omer Neutra to the Oval Office. President Trump is committed to bringing every hostage home,” the White House posted on X.

Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was pushing for an early exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, in a bid to build “momentum” to implement other parts of his plan to end the Gaza war.

“The technical teams are discussing that as we speak, to ensure that the environment is perfect to release those hostages,” Leavitt said, adding that teams were “going over the list of both the Israeli hostages and also the political prisoners who will be released,” Al Jazeera quoted her as saying.

What happened on Day 1 of Israel-Hamas talks?

Meanwhile, the first day of Israel-Hamas indirect talks in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh ended on a positive note on Monday, amid hopes of implementing the Trump Gaza peace plan, which outlines a 20-point plan to end the Israel-Gaza war.

The Hamas delegation, which included Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, two Hamas leaders who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar’s capital Doha that killed five people last month, told negotiators that Israel’s continued bombing of Gaza poses a challenge to negotiations on the release of captives, Al Jazeera reported.

The first day of talks covered proposed exchange of prisoners and captives, a ceasefire, and humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and a roadmap was drawn up for how the current round of talks would continue, the report said.

(With ANI inputs)