Hamas, Israel exchange lists for hostage-prisoner swap amid Gaza peace talks

Hamas said on Wednesday that it had exchanged lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners as part of an anticipated swap deal.

The group expressed optimism about the ongoing peace talks in Egypt on US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.

The negotiations are centered on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the exchange of prisoners. A Palestinian source close to the talks said the timing of the first phase of President Trump’s 20-point initiative had not yet been finalised during the meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Trump voiced optimism about progress toward a deal on Tuesday, which marked the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel that led to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. A US delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former Middle East envoy, is also participating in the talks.

However, officials from all sides have urged caution regarding expectations for a quick resolution. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was scheduled to join the discussions on Wednesday afternoon, an Israeli official said.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin will also attend the ceasefire negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Hamas has demanded a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the immediate launch of a large-scale reconstruction effort supervised by a Palestinian “national technocratic body.”

Israel, meanwhile, insists that Hamas must disarm — a condition the militant group refuses to accept.

US officials have indicated that the initial focus will be on halting the fighting and determining the logistics of releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel.

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza, drawing increasing international criticism. The assault has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and triggered a starvation crisis. Multiple rights experts, scholars, and a UN inquiry have described the situation as genocide, while Israel maintains it is acting in self-defense following the 2023 Hamas attacks.