Hostage, Prisoner Lists Exchanged for Gaza Peace Plan: Hamas

In an update on the ongoing indirect Gaza peace talks between Israeli and Hamas officials in Egypt, the terrorist group stated on Oct. 8 that lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal were exchanged, according to Al-Aqsa TV, a Hamas-affiliated media outlet.

On the third day of the negotiations over a U.S.-drafted peace plan, held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, Hamas said its representatives “demonstrated the necessary positivity and responsibility to achieve the required progress and finalize the agreement,” the outlet said in a post on Telegram.

The group added that the talks, with delegations from Egypt, the United States, and Qatar acting as intermediaries, are focused on mechanisms for ending the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and a prisoner exchange.

A U.S. delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former Middle East envoy, will join the ongoing talks in Egypt on Oct. 8.

The 20-point Gaza peace plan, put forward last week by U.S. President Donald Trump, calls for an immediate cease-fire, a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, large-scale reconstruction, and the release of all hostages—both living and deceased—within 72 hours of Israel’s agreement.

In return, Israel would free 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after the October 2023 attack. The plan also sets conditions for “deradicalizing” Gaza and establishing what U.S. officials describe as a terror-free zone.

“Mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to implementing a cease-fire, and everyone is optimistic,” Hamas said, according to Al Aqsa TV.

Before the Oct. 8 announcement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 7 that the talks focused on identifying the obstacles to carrying out Trump’s plan and working out its practical details.

European and Arab state leaders have backed Trump’s peace plan. On Oct. 7, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, to discuss the situation in Gaza and other issues.

“The momentum around the peace plan for Gaza must be seized. Quick results are needed to build trust—and first signs of hope must be followed by concrete next steps,” Wadephul said.

He added that he had discussed the “day after” with Witkoff.

“Gaza needs new local administration under the planned peace council. Egypt has laid groundwork. For international security forces, a UN Security Council resolution would be a sensible basis,” Wadephul said.

Tuesday was the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, in which Hamas-led terrorists killed about 1,200 people and seized 251 hostages in southern Israel. The attack triggered Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Hamas is still holding 48 hostages in the enclave.

Marking the anniversary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel in its fight against terrorism and in efforts to free the hostages. He said Trump’s peace plan “offers a historic opportunity to close this dark chapter, and to build a foundation for lasting peace and security for all.”

Ahead of the talks in Egypt, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Israel’s Hostages and Missing Persons team. He said pressure on Hamas must continue until all hostages are freed, and he said that Israel would act decisively until the war’s goals, including the hostages’ return and the country’s security, were achieved.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 67,000 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began two years ago. The figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians and includes some deaths from natural causes. The Epoch Times cannot verify these figures.