Overview

• Delegations convened in Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set to join.
• The opening phase seeks the release of 47–48 hostages, about 20 believed alive, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and more than 1,700 detainees held since the war began.
• Hamas has accepted elements of the proposal but has not agreed to disarmament, a key Israeli demand, and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawals remains under negotiation.
• Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza despite U.S. calls to pause bombing to enable exchanges, with Gaza authorities reporting at least 19 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Israel’s team includes officials from Mossad and Shin Bet along with adviser Ophir Falk and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch, with chief negotiator Ron Dermer expected later this week, as far-right coalition threats and an opposition offer of support shape the political backdrop.