Indirect Israel-Hamas Talks Begin in Egypt to Discuss Hostage and Prisoner Swap

Cairo, Oct 2025: Indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas delegations began Monday in Egypt to discuss a framework for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.

Hosted by Egyptian and Qatari mediators in the Red Sea city of Sharm El Sheikh, the discussions aim to “prepare the ground” for a potential swap, Xinhua news agency reported. The mediators are focusing on identifying and expanding “common ground points” between Israel and Hamas and working toward establishing a mechanism for the release of detainees in exchange for prisoners.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the talks would cover “field conditions and details” for the exchange of “all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners” under the US-proposed 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan. Palestinian sources said the Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt on Sunday to coordinate with Egyptian officials ahead of Monday’s discussions, which are intended to implement the first phase of the US-backed plan.

After the Hamas meeting, a separate session with the Israeli delegation is scheduled. Outcomes from both rounds of negotiations will be relayed to US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are expected to arrive in Egypt later this week. According to Egyptian security sources, the Israeli delegation has already arrived, while US mediators are expected on Tuesday or Wednesday. The talks are scheduled to continue over three days.

The Hamas delegation is led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, who traveled to Egypt for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt in Doha last month. His participation marks a significant step in the indirect negotiations with Israel.

These talks follow Hamas’s recent pledge to release all Israeli hostages taken since October 7, 2023, under the US-proposed plan. Israeli officials report that Hamas still holds 48 hostages, including 20 believed to be alive. However, Hamas has yet to address other critical provisions, particularly disarmament, which Israel considers a non-negotiable requirement for any truce.

The Egyptian-led mediation effort aims to bridge differences between the two sides and facilitate the first tangible steps toward implementing the ceasefire plan. While the talks focus on the immediate exchange of detainees, broader issues such as security arrangements, humanitarian access, and long-term reconciliation remain unresolved, underscoring the complexity of achieving a durable peace.

The indirect negotiations represent a cautious but significant move toward reducing hostilities and potentially laying the groundwork for a larger truce in Gaza, as international stakeholders monitor progress closely.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)