Hamas recently indicated that a prevailing sense of “optimism” is present in the indirect discussions with Israel, discussions focused on bringing an end to the intense conflict in Gaza. As a significant step in a potential deal, the militant group has submitted a list of prisoners it hopes to see released in exchange for the freeing of Israeli hostages.
These crucial talks are centered on developing a comprehensive plan to implement a 20-point peace proposal. This initiative, put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has reportedly garnered positive responses from both Israeli and Hamas representatives.
The fundamental elements of this proposed peace plan include a complete ceasefire, the unconditional release of all captives, the disarmament of Hamas, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
Speaking from Sharm El-Sheikh, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu stated that mediators are working tirelessly to remove any obstacles that might impede the ceasefire’s implementation. He observed a pervasive spirit of optimism among all parties involved.
Mr. Nunu further clarified that Hamas has provided a list of prisoners whose release is sought during the first phase of the truce. This list, he noted, aligns with “agreed-upon criteria and numbers.” In return, Hamas is expected to release 47 hostages, including both living individuals and those confirmed to be deceased, who were captured during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, an event that triggered the current war.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are currently in Sharm El-Sheikh. He described the feedback received since their arrival as “very encouraging.”
President Sisi emphasized that the U.S. envoys arrived with “a strong will, a strong message, and a strong mandate from President Trump to end the war in this round of negotiations.” He also extended an invitation to Mr. Trump himself to travel to Egypt for a signing ceremony if a deal is successfully reached.
Previously, from the Oval Office, Mr. Trump had told reporters there was “a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East” if both Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were also anticipated to participate in these discussions.
The significance of these negotiations is amplified by their timing, coinciding with the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. That assault tragically led to the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Additionally, 251 individuals were taken hostage into Gaza, of whom 47 remain captive, with the Israeli military indicating that 25 of these are deceased.
The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in at least 67,183 casualties, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. These figures, considered reliable by the United Nations, highlight that over half of those killed are women and children.
Global Calls for an End to the Conflict
International pressure to end the war has escalated dramatically, given the widespread destruction across Gaza, a looming UN-declared famine, and the continued anguish of Israeli families awaiting the return of their loved ones. A UN inquiry last month accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, while various human rights organizations have leveled accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Hamas concerning the October 7 attack. Both sides vehemently reject these allegations.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters worldwide joined mass demonstrations last weekend, advocating for an immediate cessation of hostilities. These large-scale pro-Palestinian rallies took place in numerous cities across Europe, including Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Britain.
In Gaza, residents expressed a profound yearning for the war’s conclusion, a conflict that has devastated their lives, halted their children’s education, and left countless families scarred by immense loss and grief. Abeer Abu Said, a 21-year-old from Gaza who has tragically lost seven family members, shared her despair: “My dream is for the war to end now, not tomorrow. I don’t trust anyone — from the Israeli negotiators or even Hamas — they all lie to us. Negotiations for the sake of negotiations, while we die every minute.”
In Israel, the second anniversary of the October 7 attack was marked with poignant music, tears, and speeches. Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre who represented Israel at the last Eurovision contest, performed, singing “I rise from the ashes and I come home.” Orit Baron, 75, whose daughter Yuval and her fiancé Moshe Shuva were killed at the Nova festival, described October 7 as a “black” day for her family. Reflecting at the attack site, she stated, “Now it’s two years. And I’m here to be with her, because this is the last time that she was alive.”
Central to the Exchange: The Prisoners’ List
A critical aspect of these negotiations revolves around the specific names of Palestinian prisoners that Hamas is advocating for. According to Egyptian state-linked media, high-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti, a prominent figure from Hamas’s rival Fatah movement, is reportedly among those requested for release. Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002 and was sentenced to life in 2004 on murder charges. While Israel considers him a terrorist, his supporters often refer to him as the “Palestinian Mandela,” and he frequently tops Palestinian popularity polls.
More broadly, Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, stated that the Islamist group seeks “guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all.” A Palestinian source closely involved with the Hamas negotiating team revealed that a recent session included discussions on “the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange.”