Overview

• Hamas said the parties exchanged names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners for a proposed swap and described the talks as showing a spirit of optimism.
• The indirect negotiations in Sharm El‑Sheikh involve U.S., Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish mediators, with President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joining regional officials.
• The agenda centers on a truce, Israeli redeployment from Gaza and sequencing for releases, and a source cited by AFP said Hamas reviewed Israel’s initial withdrawal maps and exchange timelines.
• Hamas conditions any deal on a permanent end to the war, full Israeli withdrawal and enforceable guarantees, while the U.S. plan outlines Gaza’s demilitarization and contemplates future statehood that Netanyahu rejects.
• Combat and a severe humanitarian crisis continue during the talks, with Gaza authorities reporting more than 67,000 deaths since the offensive that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in Israel.