Hamas handed over lists on Wednesday of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners proposed for a swap in indirect ceasefire talks in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were due to join negotiators trying to halt the two year war in Gaza. The exchange marks a key procedural step in discussions that aim to secure a ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal and the release of detainees on both sides.
The development is significant because it is the first time negotiators have openly exchanged names tied to a formal swap under the U.S. plan. Diplomats and mediators say the move could open the way for a phased halt to fighting, even as major political and security questions remain unresolved.
Hamas negotiators said talks have focused on the mechanics of stopping the fighting, the timetable for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza and the terms of a hostage prisoner swap. U.S. officials have framed early sessions as logistical and technical, aimed at implementing an American proposal that calls for a ceasefire, staged releases and an international security presence to oversee Gaza after any withdrawal.
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One of the thorniest issues is disarmament. Israeli officials insist Hamas surrender its weapons as part of any lasting settlement, a demand Hamas has not accepted and has so far been unwilling to discuss in detail at the talks. Palestinian sources close to the negotiations say timing for the first phase of the U.S. 20 point initiative has not been agreed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said U.S. President Donald Trump asked Turkey to help persuade Hamas to accept the deal, and urged pressure also be applied to Israel. Erdogan told reporters that placing the entire weight of peace on Palestinians would not be fair or realistic, comments that underline the diplomatic balancing act among mediators.
The Trump plan envisages an international body, reportedly to include former British prime minister Tony Blair, overseeing Gaza during reconstruction and a transition away from Hamas rule, a proposal that Arab backers say must eventually lead to Palestinian independence. Israel and Western backers have ruled out any post war governing role for Hamas.
Mediators say the immediate goal is to secure a halt in the fighting and to arrange the logistics for releasing hostages and freed detainees.
What happens next will depend on whether the visiting U.S. envoys and senior Israeli and Arab figures can bridge differences on disarmament, withdrawal and governance. Negotiators were expected to continue talks through Wednesday and beyond as mediators press for a rapid, verifiable first phase.
