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Palestinian and Egyptian officials confirmed that the discussions are focused on creating the field conditions for an exchange deal that would see the release of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas said it had agreed to release all Israeli prisoners. (File Photo: Reuters)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 7, 2025 01:07 IST
Israeli and Hamas officials are holding indirect negotiations in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh to secure agreement on a US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza.
Palestinian and Egyptian officials confirmed that the discussions are focused on creating the field conditions for an exchange deal that would see the release of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas said it had agreed "to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal," provided the necessary conditions were met. However, it has not addressed several key points of contention, including demands for its disarmament and its future political role in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of hostages "in the coming days."
Egyptian and Qatari mediators are expected to conduct shuttle diplomacy between the delegations of both sides. The talks are taking place amid the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostages.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, Israeli military operations since then have killed 67,160 people in the territory.
KEY FIGURES ATTEND HIGH-STAKES TALKS
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, former White House adviser Jared Kushner, and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are among those participating in the discussions.
Donald Trump, on his social media platform, urged all sides to "move fast," saying he had been informed that the first phase of the plan -- centred on the release of hostages -- "should be completed this week."
The US-backed 20-point peace plan, agreed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of 48 hostages -- only 20 believed to be alive -- in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, Netanyahu has publicly rejected any move toward Palestinian statehood, reaffirming his opposition in a recent statement. "It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state," he said.
Even as the talks began, Israeli bombardment continued across several areas of Gaza. Israeli forces have maintained their offensive in Gaza City, which they claim is necessary to secure the release of remaining hostages.
- Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Oct 7, 2025
