Overview

• President Donald Trump said both sides approved the opening stage that would free all remaining hostages and see Israeli forces pull back to an agreed line.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will bring the deal to his cabinet on Thursday, with officials indicating releases could begin Saturday and a Hamas source citing a 72-hour window after approval.
• Hamas said it exchanged lists for a hostage–prisoner swap; Israeli figures indicate 48 hostages remain from 2023, about 20 believed alive.
• Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey confirmed an initial agreement while key issues remain unresolved, including Hamas’ disarmament, post-war administration of Gaza, and the sequencing and verification of withdrawals and releases.
• Talks in Sharm el-Sheikh drew senior participants including U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Israeli official Ron Dermer, Qatar’s prime minister and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, with Egypt describing progress as positive.