The difficult but possibly decisive meetings began on Monday 6 October, right on the eve of the sad anniversary of the massacre committed in Israel by Hamas two years ago. peace negotiations on the Gaza StripAlthough some of the parties involved—Israeli and US Presidents Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump above all—are eager to conclude the negotiations, they have actually started quietly given the initial absence not only of Netanyahu's right-hand man, Ron Dermer, who will have a key role, but also of the US delegation composed in particular of Steve Witkoff, Trump's personal envoy, and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law and former Oval Office adviser during the tycoon's first term. Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh only today, in Egypt, where the summit is taking place, but these delays and Tel Aviv's reticence are interpreted by Hamas as a strategy to slow down or even hinder the agreement.
The terrorist organization, which is currently still the interlocutor on behalf of Gaza and the hypothetical State of Palestine, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of wanting to "obstruct and hinder the current round of negotiations, just as he deliberately obstructed all previous rounds. Despite brutal military force, unlimited support, and full American cooperation in the war of extermination in Gaza, they have not succeeded and will not succeed in creating a false image of victory," said Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman, quoted by Al JazeeraLocal media also report that Hamas, for its part, is also placing counterconditions on the 20-Point Peace Plan presented by Trump and Netanyahu and almost taken for granted by Washington, who warned the Palestinians that if it is not accepted there will be dire consequences, presumably a decisive offensive by the Israeli army and the total destruction of Gaza.
Hamas: "Yes to disarmament and hostage release, no to Blair." Statements by Giorgia Meloni
Hamas, local media say, accepted disarmament and the rapid release of the hostages, which would be reciprocal given that Israel also holds members of the Palestinian organization in its prisons, but insists on the need for the "after", cEverything that happens after the ceasefire, from the reconstruction of the Strip to the possible recognition of a Palestinian state (which, however, is not envisaged in Trump's plan), will have to be done with the involvement of the Gaza authorities and the Arab world. This is why Hamas is reportedly not accepting it. the figure of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a central figure in the peace board chaired by Donald Trump. Meanwhile, on the second anniversary of October 7, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni She intervened, declaring that "Hamas's violence has triggered an unprecedented crisis in the Middle East. Israel's military response has gone beyond any principle of proportionality, and is claiming too many innocent victims among the civilian population of Gaza."
The EU: "Demilitarization is essential, Brussels will play a central role."
Italy and the European Union, however, have a marginal role At this stage, where everything revolves around Donald Trump and the Arab League, represented in Sharm el-Sheikh in particular by emissaries of the Emir of Qatar al-Thani, "The EU is firmly committed to supporting peace in the Middle East," Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica was keen to point out, "through inclusive dialogue and respect for international law." Demilitarization is essential and effective governance is essential to working towards the reconstruction of Gaza. Together with international allies, we will work towards a reform of the Palestinian Authority. The EU will play a central role in reconstruction efforts through the Palestine Donors Group, ensuring Palestinian ownership and international credibility.
