Overview

• Delegations from Israel and Hamas convened in Egypt under Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediation, with Hamas signaling readiness to hand over all hostages contingent on prisoner releases and on‑the‑ground guarantees.
• Washington is pushing to activate the plan’s first phase, which includes a 72‑hour window to free all hostages once accepted, and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are slated to engage as President Trump urges swift execution.
• Israel has signaled conditional acceptance of an initial withdrawal line mapped by the U.S. while insisting on the right to resume operations if conditions are not met, and Israeli forces report pauses and repositioning but no comprehensive ceasefire.
• Talks are starting with technical mechanics for a hostage‑prisoner exchange and ceasefire conditions, with an Israeli official cautioning the negotiations could run several days as mediators seek a detailed agreement rather than a brief truce.
• Major unresolved files include Hamas disarmament, future governance and verification, mapped withdrawal timelines and an international stabilization presence, and implementation faces logistical hurdles such as locating hostages’ remains in devastated areas.