US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was “pretty sure” a Gaza peace deal was possible and added that Hamas was agreeing to “very important” issues as talks with Israel commenced. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office when asked about preconditions, including Hamas agreeing to disarm, Trump stated, “I have red lines, if certain things aren’t met we’re not going to do it.” He further commented, “But I think we’re doing very well and I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important.”Trump expressed optimism regarding the deal’s prospects as delegations from Hamas and Israel initiated indirect talks in Egypt to end the war under his 20-point plan. “I think we’re going to have a deal. It’s a hard thing for me to say that when for years and years they’ve been trying to have a deal,” he said.“We’re going to have a Gaza deal, I’m pretty sure, yeah.” This statement came as the first round of talks between Hamas and Israel ended “amid a positive atmosphere” in Egypt on ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza and would continue on Tuesday.Behind closed doors and under tight security, negotiators were to speak through mediators shuttling back and forth, only weeks after Israel tried to kill Hamas’s lead negotiators in a strike on Qatar.Al-Qahera News earlier said delegations were “discussing preparing ground conditions for the release of detainees and prisoners”.“Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides to establish a mechanism” for the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails, it said.
