Hamas Calls for Swift Hostage-Prisoner Swap as Talks Set to Begin

Hamas on Sunday urged a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel as negotiators from both sides prepared to meet in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza.

Foreign ministers from several countries, including Egypt, described the upcoming discussions as a “real opportunity” to achieve a sustainable ceasefire.

“Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions,” a senior Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The diplomatic push comes after Hamas responded positively to US President Donald Trump’s roadmap for ending the fighting, which involves the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to stop bombing Gaza ahead of the talks in Egypt:

“You can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop. There can’t be a war going on in the middle of it.”

Negotiators are scheduled to meet in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing hope that the hostages could be released within days.

• Israeli Delegation: Departing for Egypt on Monday
• Timing: Talks coincide with the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack

Cairo confirmed it would host a Hamas delegation to discuss “ground conditions and details of the exchange of all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners.”

The White House has also sent two envoys—Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff—to Egypt to facilitate the discussions.

A Palestinian source close to Hamas said the group insisted on:

• A complete halt to Israeli military operations across Gaza
• Ceasing all air, reconnaissance, and drone activity
• Withdrawal from Gaza City

In parallel, Hamas said it would halt its own military operations once conditions were met.

Under Trump’s roadmap, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza in return for hostages.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Israeli strikes continued on Sunday.

• Casualties: At least 20 Palestinians killed, 13 in Gaza City, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
• Observations: Thick smoke observed across Gaza, with tanks and military vehicles slightly pulled back, interpreted as a tactical repositioning rather than a withdrawal.

“There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of air strikes (since last night)… but I believe this is a tactical move, not a withdrawal,” said Muin Abu Rajab, 40, a resident of Al-Rimal neighbourhood.

Hamas insists it should have a say in Gaza’s future, although Trump’s roadmap stipulates that it and other factions will not govern the territory.

The plan calls for:

1. Immediate halt to hostilities
2. Release of hostages within 72 hours
3. Gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
4. Hamas disarmament

The territory would then be administered by a technocratic body overseen by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump.

“We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu and force him to stop the war,” said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of Al-Mawasi.
“We want the prisoner exchange deal to be completed quickly so that Israel has no excuse to continue the war.”

Context and Casualties

• Hamas October 7, 2023 Attack: 1,219 killed, mostly civilians
• Israel’s Retaliatory Offensive: At least 67,139 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health ministry figures deemed reliable by the United Nations

Key Takeaways

The talks represent a critical moment in resolving the hostage crisis and potentially ending the war, though continued Israeli strikes and complex political demands make the situation highly delicate.