Hamas said on Wednesday it had shared a list of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners as part of a possible swap deal. The group voiced optimism about negotiations in Egypt on US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war.
Talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh are focusing on three main issues: halting the fighting, arranging Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and finalizing the swap deal. However, negotiators have not yet agreed on when the first phase of Trump’s 20-point initiative will begin.
Trump, marking the second anniversary of Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, said he was hopeful about progress. His team, including envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, joined the discussions, which many say are the closest step yet toward ending the war.
Israeli minister Ron Dermer, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Turkish official Ibrahim Kalin are also participating. Hamas insists on a full ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and reconstruction led by a Palestinian technocratic body. Israel demands Hamas disarm, which the group refuses.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its offensive, which Gaza authorities say has killed 67,000 people and displaced nearly the entire population, sparking global outrage and accusations of genocide.
