Hamas confirmed on Wednesday morning that it had exchanged prisoner lists with Israel, a development that marks a crucial step forward in the indirect ceasefire negotiations taking place in Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh.
In a statement posted to Telegram, Taher Al-Nunu, media advisor to the Hamas political bureau, said the exchange was carried out “according to the agreed-upon criteria and numbers.”
According to Axios, US President Donald Trump’s senior envoys—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh on Wednesday morning to join the discussions. Officials from both the US and Israel had previously indicated that meaningful progress was unlikely until the two envoys were on-site.
Two unnamed sources told Axios that Trump had privately informed families of Israeli captives that “the next 48 hours will be decisive” in reaching an agreement.
The talks began on Monday, Oct. 6, with the involvement of regional mediators. According to Al-Nunu’s statement, Hamas had shown “the required seriousness and responsibility” to help move the process towards a finalized deal.
On Tuesday, the Hamas delegation, supported by other Palestinian resistance factions, had told mediators that no Israeli captives would be released until a ceasefire was in effect—and only after a clear timetable was set for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
By Wednesday, Al-Nunu noted that mediators were putting in “notable efforts” to clear the remaining hurdles to a ceasefire, and described a “prevailing sense of optimism” among those in attendance.
The negotiations are built around three central pillars: ending Israel’s ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza, ensuring a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and arranging a reciprocal release of both Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees.
Joining the talks were a range of high-level participants, including Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian intelligence director Hassan Rashad, and Ron Dermer, senior advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, along with the American delegation.
Senior US officials expressed “measured optimism” about the possibility of securing a deal this week. They stressed that Kushner and Witkoff “will not leave Egypt without securing an agreement” to release captives and bring an end to the war.
One US official, referring to Netanyahu, remarked: “Bibi applied crucial military pressure that shifted Hamas’ position. But now he must recognize that it’s time to close the deal.”
Media reports confirmed that Hamas has included the release of Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader and widely respected figure in Palestinian politics, as part of its demands.
Hamas is also reportedly pushing for the release of several high-profile Palestinian leaders: Abdullah Barghouti, Ibrahim Hamed, Hassan Salameh, Abbas Al-Sayed, and Ahmad Sa’adat, secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Under Trump’s proposal, 250 Palestinian detainees would be released, along with 1,700 Palestinians kidnapped from Gaza, and placed in detention since Oct. 7, 2023. In exchange, Palestinian resistance groups would release 48 Israeli captives, including the remains of 25 individuals.
On Oct. 3, Hamas had conditionally endorsed Trump’s ceasefire plan. The proposal outlines the release of all Israeli captives—both living and deceased—through a structured exchange, and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian council established through national consensus.
Notably, the agreement omits any mention of disarming Hamas or committing to post-war reconstruction.
Following Hamas’ announcement, Trump urged Israel to halt its military operations. However, Israeli occupation forces continued their assault on Gaza City, issuing new evacuation orders and forcing thousands of civilians to flee.
Even as ceasefire negotiations continue, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza shows no sign of slowing. Over the past four days, Israeli air and artillery strikes have killed 118 Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Gaza Government Media Office. The attacks, it added, continued despite Hamas’ endorsement of Trump’s ceasefire proposal and Washington’s call for de-escalation.
The media office accused Israeli occupation forces of deliberately escalating attacks on civilian areas in defiance of international mediation efforts. From the morning of Saturday, October 4, to the end of Tuesday, Oct. 7, Israeli warplanes and artillery carried out more than 230 strikes on densely populated residential neighborhoods and displacement areas across Gaza’s governorates. The office described the bombardment as a series of “clear massacres.”
Since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and just shy of 170,000 wounded, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
