Hamas has called for a swift start to a prisoner exchange with Israel as negotiators from both sides are set to meet in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war.
Foreign ministers from several countries, including Egypt, have described the talks as a “real opportunity” to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.
A senior Hamas official, speaking anonymously, stated that the group is “very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process.”
This diplomatic push follows Hamas’s positive response to a roadmap proposed by US President Donald Trump for the release of captives in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Negotiations are scheduled to take place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed hope that hostages held in Gaza could be released within days, coinciding with the week-long Jewish Sukkot holiday beginning Monday.
The White House confirmed that Trump has sent two envoys to Egypt: his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff.
According to a Palestinian source close to the talks, Hamas is insisting that Israel halt all military operations across Gaza, cease air and drone activity, and withdraw from inside Gaza City. In return, Hamas and other factions would also halt their military operations.
President Trump’s proposed plan outlines the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza arrested after October 7, 2023. However, Trump warned on Truth Social that he would “not tolerate delay” from Hamas, urging the group to move quickly or “all bets will be off.”
Despite calls for a halt in bombings, Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza. Rescue forces reported at least five people were killed in Gaza City on Sunday morning, following a night of attacks that killed nearly 60 people on Saturday.
The future governance of Gaza remains a key point of discussion. Trump’s roadmap stipulates that Hamas should have no role in governing the territory, proposing instead a technocratic body overseen by a post-war transitional authority.
