Hamas and Israel Edge Closer to Ceasefire Deal: Critical Hostage-Prisoner Exchange Talks Begin in Egypt

Hamas seized 251 hostages during their October 7 attack, with 47 still remaining in Gaza.

On Sunday, Hamas urged for an immediate commencement of a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel as negotiators from both parties headed to Egypt for critical talks aimed at concluding the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza.

The diplomatic initiative follows Hamas's favorable response to Donald Trump's peace plan outlining an end to hostilities and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, with the former US president encouraging both sides to proceed rapidly.

"There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," Trump stated Sunday on his Truth Social platform.

"I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST."

Foreign ministers from several nations, including Egypt, described the talks at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh as a "real opportunity" to achieve a lasting ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism that hostages could be freed within days.

A senior Hamas official told AFP anonymously that the Palestinian organization "is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel on Sunday to halt bombardment of Gaza ahead of the discussions in Egypt.

"You can't release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop," Rubio told CBS.

"There can't be a war going on in the middle of it."

Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli delegation would depart for Egypt on Monday for the talks, scheduled to begin on the eve of the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war.

Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt late Sunday leading the group's delegation, according to a statement from Hamas.

The White House announced that Trump had dispatched two envoys to Egypt — his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff.

"During communications with mediators, Hamas insisted that it is essential for Israel to halt military operations across all areas of the Gaza Strip, cease all air, reconnaissance, and drone activity, and withdraw from inside Gaza City," a Palestinian source close to Hamas stated, adding the group would "also halt their military operations" simultaneously.

The Palestinian group captured 251 hostages during their October 7 attack, with 47 still in Gaza. Of those, the Israeli military reports 25 are deceased.

According to Trump's proposal, Israel is expected to free 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences and over 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip arrested during the conflict, in exchange for the hostages.

Trump has cautioned he will "not tolerate delay" from Hamas, urging the group to move swiftly toward an agreement "or else all bets will be off".

Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned Sunday that if negotiations failed, the military would "return to fighting" in Gaza, noting that the "operational situation has changed".

Israel has meanwhile continued conducting strikes in Gaza.

AFPTV footage captured thick smoke rising over the coastal territory's skyline on Sunday.

Gaza's civil defence agency, operating under Hamas authority, reported Israeli attacks killed at least 20 people across the territory on Sunday, with 13 fatalities in Gaza City.

"There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of air strikes (since last night). The tanks and military vehicles have slightly pulled back, but I believe this is a tactical move, not a withdrawal," said Muin Abu Rajab, 40, a resident of the city's Al-Rimal neighborhood.

Hamas has maintained it should participate in the territory's future governance, though Trump's plan stipulates that it and other factions "not have any role in the governance of Gaza".

The US proposal, endorsed by Netanyahu, calls for a cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and Hamas's disarmament — a condition the group has previously described as a red line.

Under the proposal, administration of Gaza would be assumed by a technocratic body supervised by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.

"We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu and force him to stop the war," said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of the Al-Mawasi area.

"We want the prisoner exchange deal to be completed quickly so that Israel has no excuse to continue the war."

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 67,139 Palestinians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.