Hamas optimistic about Gaza talks, hands over list of hostages

Turkey joins negotiations in Egypt on Trump plan to end war

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Hamas said on Oct 8 that it had exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swop deal, and that it was optimistic about talks in Egypt on US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

Negotiations are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swop deal, the Palestinian militant group added.

The timing of the implementation of the first phase of Mr Trump's 20-point initiative has not been agreed so far during talks in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, said a Palestinian source close to the negotiations.

The plan includes a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, Hamas' disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Mr Trump expressed optimism about progress towards a deal on Oct 7, the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered Israel's assault on Gaza.

A US team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law who served as Middle East envoy during the President's first term, will take part in the talks over a plan that has come closest to silencing the guns.