In what negotiators are calling a breakthrough, Hamas and Israel have exchanged lists of hostages and prisoners, and this could be a pivotal step towards opening the door to progress in ceasefire talks over Gaza.
The swap took place in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh during high-level negotiations involving officials from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, have been in Cairo and say they are staying until a deal is sealed. The lists contain the names of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody. Their exchange marks the most concrete sign of progress in negotiations that have otherwise been slow and uncertain.
This has definitely raised all hopes of their release, yet the core questions remain as to when and how the first phase of the proposed peace plan will begin. The multi-stage deal under discussion includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, phased releases of hostages and prisoners, and negotiations on Gaza’s future governance, including Hamas’s role. However, disagreements over sequencing and verification are slowing progress.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday both sides had agreed “in principle” to launch the first phase, but Israeli and Palestinian sources stress that a start date is still unsettled.
As Gaza’s suffering deepens, aid agencies are urging negotiators to act swiftly, warning that civilians cannot wait for politics to catch up with urgent humanitarian needs. The next few days are crucial and are expected to prove more decisive. If both sides agree on a clear roadmap, the hostage-prisoner exchange could pave the way for a broader ceasefire and, perhaps, the first real step toward ending the war.
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