Hamas Reports ‘Optimism’ in Gaza Ceasefire Talks as Prisoner Exchange Plan Advances

Hamas said on Wednesday that “optimism prevails” in ongoing indirect negotiations with Israel aimed at ending the Gaza war, as the group submitted a list of prisoners it wants freed in exchange for releasing Israeli hostages.

The talks are centered on a 20-point peace proposal introduced last month by U.S. President Donald Trump, which both sides have responded positively to. The plan outlines a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Sharm El-Sheikh that “mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties.”

Nunu confirmed that Hamas had submitted its list of prisoners for release “in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers.” In exchange, the group is expected to release 47 Israeli hostages — both living and deceased — taken during the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were all due in Sharm El-Sheikh to take part in the discussions.

“There’s a real chance that we could do something,” Trump said on Tuesday. “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It’s something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately.”

Trump pledged that the U.S. would “do everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal” if a ceasefire is reached.

The renewed diplomacy coincided with Israel marking the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack, which left 1,219 people dead — mostly civilians — and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.

Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,160 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, a figure the United Nations considers credible. More than half of the dead are reported to be women and children.

Global pressure to end the war continues to mount amid a UN-declared famine in Gaza and widespread protests across Europe demanding a ceasefire.

“My dream is for the war to end now, not tomorrow,” said Abeer Abu Said, a 21-year-old Gaza resident who lost seven family members. “I don’t trust anyone — from the Israeli negotiators or even Hamas — they all lie to us. Negotiations for the sake of negotiations, while we die every minute.”

Meanwhile, Israelis commemorated the massacre’s anniversary with memorials and concerts. “I rise from the ashes and I come home,” sang Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova music festival attack.

Key to the ongoing negotiations is Hamas’s list of Palestinian prisoners it seeks to free, which reportedly includes Marwan Barghouti — a prominent Fatah leader serving multiple life sentences since 2004.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the group wants “guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all.” A Palestinian source close to the delegation added that discussions on Tuesday focused on “Israeli withdrawal maps and the timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange.”

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