Hamas has revealed that it exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners who would be released should a deal be reached during the ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt. This was a result of pressure from US President Donald Trump.
It appears this refers both to lists of hostages — which Hamas calls “prisoners” — and to Palestinian security prisoners, including terror convicts, others serving life sentences, and Gazans detained amid the ongoing war, exchanged between the two parties.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 8, the Palestinian militant group’s official Taher Nunu stated that negotiations are focused on mechanisms to end the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
“The mediators are making great efforts to remove every obstacle to the implementation of a ceasefire, and there is an optimistic spirit among everyone,” he noted.
Hamas Exchanges Prison List with Israel After Trump Ultimatum
The release of the remaining Hamas-held hostages and of 1,950 Palestinian prisoners is a key part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan – see that proposal in full in our 8.25 post.
However, the timing of the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan has not yet been agreed upon, a Palestinian source close to the negotiations said.
President Donald Trump had warned that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if the group refuses to cede power and control of Gaza, amid ongoing efforts to push forward his proposed ceasefire plan.
Also Read: Global Backlash as Israeli Seizes 14 Gaza Aid Boats
Trump said he expects clarity “soon” on whether Hamas is genuinely committed to peace, adding that he is hopeful his ceasefire proposal will become a reality and emphasized that he’s working hard to achieve it.
Earlier on Saturday, the president said that Israel agreed to the initial withdrawal line outlined in his proposed ceasefire plan for Israel and Hamas.
In a post on social media, he said the administration is now waiting for confirmation from Hamas.
If Hamas agrees, Trump said, a ceasefire would be “immediately effective” and a hostage and prisoner exchange would begin.
“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to and shared with Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000-year catastrophe. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and STAY TUNED!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Also Read: Ruto Shares His Plan to End the Israel–Hamas War
During an Oval Office meeting with Canada’s Mark Carney last night, the US president described the state of the negotiations as “very serious”.
“I think there’s a possibility we could have peace in the Middle East,” he added.
This comes after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi became the latest official to express cautious optimism over the first days of the Gaza peace talks taking place in his country.
He said he was hearing “very encouraging things” from the negotiations, which have been held behind closed doors since Monday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had expressed “optimism” about the talks.
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