Overview

• Indirect negotiations are slated to open in Sharm el-Sheikh, with Israeli envoys dispatched after Benjamin Netanjahu predicted a possible hostage release within days while vowing to keep forces in strategic parts of Gaza.
• Hamas says it accepted parts of the 20-point plan and is “very interested” in a deal, but conditions any exchange on a halt to Israeli military activity across the strip and a pullback from Gaza City, and it has not agreed to disarm.
• The White House sent Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Egypt to help finalize a hostage-for-prisoner swap as President Trump urged Israel to stop bombing to enable a safe handover and said talks could last a few days.
• Published plan terms call for all remaining hostages to be returned within 72 hours in exchange for Israel freeing 250 prisoners serving life sentences and about 1,700 others, followed by phased Israeli repositioning.
• Egypt and Qatar are mediating as Germany and several regional and EU actors voice support for the push, even as reports of continued Israeli strikes on Sunday underscore that any ceasefire depends on an agreement.