Cautious optimism at Gaza talks as Hamas hands over lists of names for swap deal

Hamas said on Wednesday it had exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal and that it was optimistic about talks in Egypt on US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.

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A girl wears a Palestinian flag sticker on her forehead during a pro-Palestinian protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza on the day of the two-year anniversary of the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas from Gaza, in La Paz, Bolivia, on Tuesday.

(REUTERS)

Negotiations, to be attended by senior foreign political and intelligence officials, are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal, the Palestinian militant group added.

One of the biggest sticking points will be pressure on Hamas to disarm, an issue it has so far been unwilling to discuss at the talks, according to a Palestinian source close to the negotiations.

The timing of the implementation of the first phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative has not been agreed so far during talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, the Palestinian source said.

Trump expressed optimism about progress toward a deal on Tuesday, the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel that triggered Israel’s assault on Gaza.