In Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), where negotiations are ongoing regarding US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, representatives of Hamas and Israel exchanged lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners who are planned to be released as part of the agreement. reports Reuters.
The talks, involving senior foreign policy and intelligence officials, are focused on mechanisms for ending hostilities, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza and agreeing on exchange terms. One of the most difficult issues, according to a Palestinian source close to the process, is the demand for the disarmament of Hamas, which they do not want to raise at the moment in the negotiations.
The interlocutor also noted that the terms of implementation of the first stage of Trump’s initiative have not yet been agreed upon. The day before, the US president expressed optimism about possible progress in reaching an agreement between the parties.
Hamas insists on a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a reconstruction process under the leadership of a Palestinian “national technocratic body”. Israel, in turn, demands the disarmament of Hamas, but the group says it will not surrender its weapons until a Palestinian state is established.
American officials hint that the talks will initially focus on achieving a cessation of hostilities and organizing the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
The US delegation is expected to join the talks, including special representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who served as Middle East envoy during Trump’s first term. According to an Israeli official, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should join the process on Wednesday afternoon.
Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who is a key mediator, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are also expected to participate in the talks. A source in the Turkish security sphere reported that Kalin held consultations with representatives of the United States, Egypt and Hamas.
