Overview

• Egyptian outlet Al Qahera News reported that indirect negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations have begun in Egypt to arrange field conditions for transfers.
• White House press secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking part in the Egypt talks with representatives of all sides.
• Palestinian agency Maan reported that Hamas consolidated the bodies of deceased captives in Gaza at a single location and provided intermediaries with names of the living and the dead for relay to Israel.
• Al‑Ghad said Hamas is insisting on the release of at least six prominent Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat, and seeks to block Israel from altering agreed exchange lists.
• The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. officials are prioritizing rapid releases without a formal deadline, while Maan indicated Hamas expects negotiations to last at least a week; Israel recently counted about 20 hostages alive and 28 bodies in Gaza.