UAE Welcomes Hamas' Readiness to Hand Over Gaza Administration

Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Muslim nations welcomed Hamas's positive response to President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire proposal, while indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel began Monday in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. The talks mark a potential breakthrough in ending the 15-month war, but major obstacles remain as both sides stake out firm positions.

The UAE, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement praising Hamas for accepting Trump's framework to end the Gaza war and release all hostages. They also welcomed Trump's call for Israel to immediately stop bombing and begin implementing a prisoner exchange deal.

Hamas announced its readiness to hand over Gaza's administration to a transitional Palestinian committee of independent technocrats. This represents a significant shift from the group's previous stance on maintaining control over the territory it has governed since 2007.

The negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh involve three mediators: the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. A high-level American delegation is participating in the talks, which focus on the practical mechanisms for implementing any potential deal.

Palestinian sources say Hamas is demanding a complete ceasefire and Israeli military withdrawal to positions held during the previous deal reached in January. The group also wants Israeli warplanes and drones grounded for 10 hours daily, extending to 12 hours on prisoner exchange days.

Hamas officials indicate they will insist on linking the first phase of any deal to subsequent phases covering governance, security, weapons, border crossings, and reconstruction. They want guarantees that ceasefire negotiations will continue throughout what could be lengthy talks on these complex issues.

For prisoner releases, Hamas is sticking to its principle of prioritizing Palestinian detainees by arrest date and age. The group wants the oldest and longest-held prisoners freed first.

**High-Stakes Diplomacy**

Trump escalated pressure on Hamas Sunday, threatening "total annihilation" if the group refuses to give up power in Gaza. His stark warning came in response to questions about what would happen if Hamas insisted on remaining in control.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he won't implement any other parts of Trump's plan until all Israeli hostages are released. This position could complicate the phased approach that mediators typically use in such negotiations.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz predicted the first phase of Trump's plan would begin soon. He claimed Israel's recent military operations, including occupying parts of Gaza and demolishing high-rise buildings, forced around 900,000 Gaza residents to flee south.

The foreign ministers emphasized their commitment to supporting efforts that ensure unrestricted humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, prevent Palestinian displacement, guarantee civilian safety, secure hostage releases, and restore Palestinian Authority control over Gaza while reunifying it with the West Bank.

The talks face significant challenges. Hamas wants ironclad guarantees that any initial ceasefire will lead to permanent arrangements, while Israel insists on maintaining security control. The involvement of multiple mediators and the complexity of issues ranging from prisoner exchanges to Gaza's future governance suggest negotiations could extend well beyond the initially expected week.

Success would mark Trump's first major foreign policy achievement since returning to office, potentially reshaping Middle East dynamics. Failure could deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and further destabilize the region.