Overview

• Delegations from Israel and Hamas are not meeting directly, with Egypt, Qatar and the United States shuttling messages after a first round described by regional media as positive.
• Negotiators are prioritizing a mechanism to free the remaining Israeli hostages in return for a large release of Palestinian detainees, with proposals reported near 2,000 prisoners and disputes over high‑profile names.
• President Donald Trump says the process has made “enormous progress” and suggests a deal could be close, though officials have disclosed few verifiable details.
• Israeli strikes in Gaza continued during the talks, with Arab broadcasters reporting new deaths, and no formal ceasefire in force.
• Germany’s foreign minister pressed for rapid results and offered support for implementation and reconstruction planning, while the UN signaled readiness to scale up aid once access is secured.