Overview

• Hamas offered to free ten live Israeli captives and return eighteen bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a proposed 60-day ceasefire
• Israel’s leadership credits recent military operations with weakening Hamas and creating conditions for hostage release
• U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said he expects the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal to be concluded by the end of the week
• Negotiators continue to discuss guarantees for unhindered humanitarian aid delivery and the extent of Israeli troop presence in Gaza
• The talks build on the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and Israel’s response that has resulted in over 57,000 Palestinian deaths