CAIRO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has taken the lead in detailed negotiations over the list of Palestinian prisoners proposed for release from Israeli jails as part of a potential hostage exchange and Gaza ceasefire, state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported on Tuesday.
The indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, now in their second day in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, have entered a stage focused on reviewing Hamas's specific demands, the channel said, citing Egyptian sources.
Hamas's list includes high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa'adat, Hassan Salameh, and Abbas al-Sayed, the Al Qahera reported. Hamas has said it is willing to release all Israeli hostages, including living captives and the remains of those killed.
A key issue in the negotiations is Hamas's demand for clear mechanisms to implement the U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan and guarantees that Israel will not resume military operations in Gaza once a deal is reached, according to the Egyptian sources.
Egypt is intensifying diplomatic efforts to finalize an agreement and establish protocols for its implementation. Delegations from Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States are expected to join the talks.
The conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when a large-scale Hamas attack on southern Israel killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Since then, Israel's response has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with local health authorities reporting more than 67,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli military operations. ■
