Overview

• Egypt announced negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations will open on Oct. 6, with Qatar and U.S. envoys expected to attend.
• Hamas said it accepts the U.S. plan’s call to release all hostages, with surviving captives to be handed over within 72 hours if a deal is reached.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a major achievement is near and outlined a sequence that begins with hostage releases and moves toward Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s demilitarization.
• Hostage families in Israel rallied with renewed hope, as media tallies indicate roughly 50 people remain in captivity and about 20 are believed to be alive.
• Reporting underscores a severe civilian toll in Gaza—about 66,000 to 67,000 dead—and cites expert claims and a former Israeli reservist’s testimony pointing to serious international humanitarian law concerns.