All eyes in the region are glued to the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh today, where negotiators are coming together for “technical talks”, preparing for the next stage of Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Here’s a rundown of who will represent the parties involved in the negotiations:
US: The special envoy and the son-in-law
The US president has not just sent his ubiquitous special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to shepherd the tasks.
As a peace deal could be near, the president also parachuted in his son-in-law, the financier Jared Kushner. The husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka served as senior advisor to the president during his first term.
He did not only help present Trump’s first Middle East plan (billed as dead on arrival), but also built a network across the region that helped him secure Saudi backing for his private equity firm after leaving the administration.
Israel: The Florida man
Israel’s team will be led by strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer. The 54-year-old has been heading the team negotiating the hostages’ release since February.
Born and raised in Florida – Trump’s state of residence – Dermer notably served as Israel’s ambassador to the US for eight years before joining the Israeli government. Though it was announced recently that Dermer would soon step down for his minister role.
Hamas: The survivor
Hamas’s delegation will be led by Khalil al Hayya.
The sexagenarian has become is part of a five-man council that has led Hamas since former boss Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israel last October in Gaza.
Al Hayya gained particular notoriety for surviving Israel’s concentrated attack on Hamas’s leadership in Qatar last month. Israel later concluded that no senior leaders were eliminated, but al Hayya’s son and chief of staff were reportedly killed.
Qatar: The royal
Doha will send its foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani. As many senior officials, he is a member of the country’s royal family, the House of Thani.
Qatar, where some Hamas leaders are based, has played an important role as a mediator throughout the war.
Al Thani was the recipient of a call from Benjamin Netanyahu last Monday, when the Israeli prime minister apologised for the widely condemned strikes on Qatar.
Trump issues fresh warning as Hamas and Israel to hold talks on his peace plan
