Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by multiple international players, have reached an advanced stage with discussions focusing on exchanging hostages. According to reports, Hamas recently submitted a list of elderly or medically unwell hostages for release, along with four U.S. citizens, during the initial stages of a proposed truce.
Israel is reviewing Hamas’s proposed exchange, which also includes a list of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. An Israeli delegation is reportedly heading to Cairo for further discussions. These talks follow months of stalled negotiations since the November 2023 agreement that secured the release of 105 hostages during a brief truce.
The discussions are reportedly gaining momentum, partly driven by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas for hostages’ release before his January 20 inauguration. The proposed framework involves a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a two-month ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid and negotiate a permanent end to hostilities.
Egyptian officials are also working on post-war governance plans, including a Community Support Committee jointly administered by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Efforts are underway to secure Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s approval for this arrangement.
The war, which began with Hamas’s October 7 cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of hostages, continues as mediators push for a breakthrough in negotiations.