Overview

• Hamas adviser Taher al‑Nunu said indirect negotiations showed optimism and confirmed the exchange of detailed hostage and prisoner lists in line with agreed criteria.
• U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joined Egypt‑hosted talks that also involve Qatari and Turkish officials, with Cairo overseeing technical and logistical arrangements.
• Key gaps persist over Hamas’s demand for a full Israeli withdrawal versus Israel’s push to retain a limited presence in parts of Gaza and over the scale of high‑profile prisoner releases.
• Trump’s proposal envisions releasing roughly 250 long‑term prisoners, a point facing strong resistance inside Israel, with Hamas lists reported to include figures such as Marwan Barghouthi.
• Trump told Israeli hostage families he is committed to securing returns and ending the war in the coming days, and reporting by Politico describes intensified U.S. pressure on Netanyahu and closer coordination with Arab mediators.