Source denies Israel and Hamas were in room together, says footage misleading

By Jacob Magid

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9 October 2025, 7:56 am

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Israeli, Qatari and other negotiators are seen in a photo indicating success in the mediated Israel-Hamas negotiations on a Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, in the early hours of October 9, 2025. (Telegram / used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyrigt law)

Egyptian media publishes video appearing to show Israeli and Hamas negotiators in the same room as they finalized a deal ending the war in Gaza, which would represent the breaking of a major taboo.

However, a source present at the talks tells The Times of Israel that the footage is misleading and Israeli and Hamas delegations were not in the same room during the finalization of negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh.

Historic day-#Israel and #Hamas on the same table due to the efforts of the mediators-@realDonaldTrump, Egypt and Qatar.
The only one who is absent is #Iran regime but Some day soon, Iran people also will join the world again. pic.twitter.com/HaXIZSe8NT

— BenSabti (@BeniSabti) October 9, 2025

According to the source, footage showing the delegations on opposite sides of a large square of tables in a conference center ballroom is actually from two separate shots taken at different times.

Representatives from Israel and the Hamas terror group — mutually sworn to the others’ destruction — have assiduously avoided meeting in person publicly, only negotiating via mediators in a proximity talks format.