A senior Hamas official has expressed the group’s eagerness to reach an agreement with Israel to end the ongoing conflict and initiate a prisoner swap. As negotiators from both sides gather in Egypt, efforts are underway to address nearly two years of war in Gaza. The Hamas official revealed that following their endorsement of a peace plan introduced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, the group is prepared to engage in serious discussions.
Negotiators from Hamas, traveling from Doha, are expected to arrive in Cairo before proceeding to Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect talks with the Israeli delegation. Speaking anonymously, due to authorization restrictions, the official emphasized Hamas’s desire for a swift resolution and readiness to begin the prisoner exchange process based on the current conditions in the field.
The official remarked, “The occupation must not obstruct the implementation of President Trump’s plan. If the occupation has genuine intentions to reach an agreement, Hamas is ready.” This sentiment reflects a significant willingness on Hamas’s part to engage in dialogue, potentially indicating a shift in the dynamics of the conflict.
A Palestinian source associated with Hamas indicated that the two delegations will remain in the same building but out of media sight. The focus of these negotiations will be to establish a timeline for the conditions required for the transfer of captives held in Gaza, which would serve as a precursor to initiating the prisoner exchange process.
Moreover, the source highlighted that Hamas has insisted on the necessity for Israel to cease military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, which includes halting all air, reconnaissance, and drone activities, as well as withdrawing from Gaza City. In a reciprocal gesture, Hamas and allied factions have also committed to halting their military operations.
The discussions are anticipated to further include agreements on maps from Israel detailing withdrawal routes and timelines, coordinated with the prisoner exchange framework. The Hamas delegation is set to present a list of Palestinian prisoners they seek for release from Israeli custody in exchange for the captives held by Hamas.
In accordance with Trump’s peace plan, the expectations are that Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom face life sentences, along with over 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip who were apprehended following the escalation of violence that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a significant attack on Israel, marking the start of the current conflict.
