All articles tagged with #hostage swap
President Trump is traveling to Israel and Egypt to meet with hostage families, oversee a prisoner release, and lead a summit with over 20 countries to discuss the Gaza peace process, following a recent cease-fire brokered by international mediators.
The US proposes a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, including a hostage-prisoner swap and humanitarian aid delivery, with Israel and Hamas reviewing the plan amid ongoing conflict and international pressure.
Israel has accepted a US compromise on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be swapped for each Israeli hostage and is awaiting a response from Hamas. The Israeli delegation in Qatar has been authorized to discuss the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, and reports suggest that Israel has agreed to let 2,000 Gazans return to the north of the Gaza Strip. However, no official confirmation has been made regarding these claims. The talks, which involve senior Hamas officials, are ongoing, and thousands have protested in Israel calling for a hostage deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there is no deal yet on a potential Gaza cease-fire and hostage swap, expressing optimism about a plan to evacuate Rafah's Palestinian citizens and eliminate Hamas' remaining presence there. Negotiations involving the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar are ongoing, with a proposed six-week pause in fighting to facilitate aid deliveries. Netanyahu emphasized the need for "total victory" over Hamas and downplayed concerns about a potential military operation in Rafah, while US national security adviser Jake Sullivan stressed the importance of protecting civilians in any such operation.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh traveled to Cairo for talks on the ongoing war in Gaza, signaling a potential movement towards a cease-fire and hostage swap. The visit comes after Hamas fired rockets into central Israel, demonstrating their resistance to Israel's offensive. Indirect talks between the two sides, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have been relaunched to negotiate a new cease-fire and the release of more hostages. However, there is still a wide gap in negotiations, with Hamas demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners and Israel rejecting these demands. The UN Security Council is also negotiating an Arab-sponsored resolution to halt the fighting and increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited Cairo for talks on the ongoing war in Gaza, as efforts to secure another cease-fire and hostage swap gather pace. The visit comes after Hamas fired rockets into central Israel, showcasing their resistance to Israel's offensive. Despite recent diplomatic activity, a wide gap remains in talks on the release of hostages, with Hamas demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The UN Security Council is negotiating an Arab-sponsored resolution to halt the fighting and increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, while Israel vows to continue its operations until it achieves its goals of removing Hamas from power and returning all hostages.
Hamas' top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has traveled to Cairo for talks on the ongoing war in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure a cease-fire and hostage swap. Despite recent indirect talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, a wide gap remains between the two sides. Hamas demands the release of Palestinian prisoners, including high-level militants, in exchange for the remaining hostages, a demand Israel has rejected. The UN Security Council is negotiating an Arab-sponsored resolution to halt the fighting and increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, with hopes of getting the US to abstain or vote "yes" after it vetoed an earlier cease-fire call. Israel continues its offensive, aiming to remove Hamas from power and dismantle its armed wing.