On Sunday, United States President Trump’s envoy met with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in Cairo, while Israel’s military operations against Gaza continued. Significant differences peRSIst among parties over Trump’s proposal to end the Gaza war, and uncertainties remain whether a cease‑fire deal can be truly implemented.

Last month, Trump announced that his war‑ending plan had achieved a “breakthrough”. Hamas later stated it had accepted the proposal to prevent renewed conflict. It nevertheless stressed implementation hinges on Israel first honouring its commitments, including troop withdrawal and an end to attacks.

Multiple Nations Press Israel

In a joint statement released Sunday, five Arab states together with Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia condemned Israel’s rejection of the proposal, arguing such a stance undermines Trump’s efforts to terminate the Gaza war. A spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to the joint statement.

Netanyahu‑led Likud posted on social platform X that Arab states sought to oust Netanyahu so his political rivals “could give them everything they want”. The remark came ahead of Israel’s national general election on October 27, with opinion polls showing the party under pressure.

Hamas Calls for Advancement to Phase Two

On Sunday, Hamas urged mediators and the Board of Peace established under Trump’s peace initiative to compel Israel to fulfil its Phase‑One obligations, cease cease‑fire violations and approve the Phase‑Two roadmap. In its statement, the group said relevant stakeholders must push the agreement forward to its next stage.

The dispute follows an October cease‑fire accord which halted large‑scale hostilities that had raged in Gaza for two years, yet failed to fully end Israeli strikes. The Gaza war broke out from Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023.

Casualty Figures Keep Mounting

Since October 2025, Israeli firepower has killed more than 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians. As Hamas generally does not release specific figures for combatant fatalities, the exact number of militants among those killed remains unknown.

Israel, for its part, reported four Israeli soldiers killed by Gaza armed factions in the same timeframe. Mutual recriminations continue, amid mounting negotiating pressure over cease‑fire enforcement, troop withdrawal arrangements and the Phase‑Two accord.