Cairo: Egypt confirmed Saturday that it will host a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Sunday to discuss details of a prisoner exchange under US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that these talks are part of ongoing efforts, in coordination with mediators, to end the Israeli war in Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, the indirect consultations will address the field conditions and details of the exchange process for all Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, in line with President Trump's proposal. The aim is to put an end to the war and the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for two years. The ministry emphasized that the talks will be conducted within the framework of efforts to build on the regional and international momentum generated by President Trump's plan to halt the conflict in Gaza.
The state-run Al-Qahera News channel, citing unnamed Egyptian sources, reported that the Hamas and Israeli delegations will discuss preparing on-the-ground conditions in Gaza for the prisoner exchange process. A senior Egyptian security source confirmed that both Hamas and Israeli delegations are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday and Monday for the talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that he instructed his negotiating team to head to Egypt for a limited number of days. In a recorded speech, he expressed hope that in the coming days, they would be able to announce the return of all hostages-both alive and deceased-in one batch, while the army remains active in Gaza and its controlled areas. Netanyahu also mentioned that the second stage of the agreement would involve dismantling Hamas' military capabilities in Gaza, asserting that the Gaza Strip will become demilitarized either through an agreement or by military means.
Netanyahu claimed coordination with Trump on an initiative that increased pressure on Hamas, leading to its approval of their plan to end the war. Hamas, on the other hand, declared on Friday its readiness to release all Israeli captives, both alive and deceased, and expressed willingness to hand over the Gaza administration to a technocratic Palestinian authority based on national consensus, supported by Arab and Islamic states.
On Friday, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform his belief that Hamas was ready for lasting peace and urged Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza to secure the release of Israeli captives. Trump's 20-point plan, unveiled on Sept. 29, includes the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours of Israel's approval, a ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Tel Aviv estimates that 48 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, Israel holds approximately 11,100 Palestinian captives, many of whom reportedly face torture, hunger, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with much of the infrastructure reduced to rubble.