Hamas spoke on Wednesday, October 8 “a spirit of optimism” in indirect negotiations with Israel on Wednesday, October 8 to reach the war in Gaza.
Taher Al-nenou, one of the leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement who participates in these discussions in Egypt, added to AFP that Hamas had exchanged with Israel “lists of prisoners who will be released”, referring to the hostages retained in Gaza and the Palestinians arrested by Israel who will probably be part of the exchange of prisoners.
These discussions are held in Egypt, two years after the beginning of the war launched by the unprecedented attack in Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023.
They are based on a plan announced on September 29 by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who provides, in addition to the exchange of prisoners, a high fire, the elimination of steps from the Israeli army of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.
“Mediators make great efforts to eliminate all obstacles to the implementation of the different stages of the high fire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all participants,” Taher Al-Nanou told AFP, together with the phone.
A “real opportunity”
The senior American, Qatari and Turks officials must join the negotiations on Wednesday in the El-Cheikh charm, coastal complex of the Sinai, in eastern Egypt. Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed Ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, was going to go there in the morning, according to Qatar diplomacy.
Donald Trump’s emissary, Steve Witkoff, and president’s son, Jared Kushner, are also expected in Egypt on Wednesday, according to Egyptian diplomacy Badr Abdelatty. Initially they were expected there last weekend.
Finally, a Turkish delegation led by the head of intelligence services Ibrahim Kalin must also participate in the negotiations on Wednesday, according to the Turkish agency Anadolu.
Türkiye maintains close relationships with Hamas. Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Wednesday that Donald Trump had “expressly asked” by Ankara to convince Hamas to negotiate peace with Israel.
Donald Trump spoke on Tuesday a “real opportunity” to reach an agreement to end the war. Qatar, Egypt and the United States play the role of mediators in war, but their efforts have not managed to lead to a durable fire.
Hamas does not “trust Israel”
Two previous bruises in November 2023 and early 2025 had allowed the return of hostages or bodies of captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, before collapsing. Hamas has expressed his agreement in Trump level, but several points remain unanswered.
On Tuesday, the day of the 2nd anniversary of Hamas’s attack against Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the achievement of all the objectives of the war in Gaza, citing the liberation of “all hostages” and “the destruction of the power of Hamas”.
Present in Egypt, the main negotiator of Hamas, Khalil Al-Hayya, said the movement wanted “guarantees” of Donald Trump and mediators that the war in Gaza “will end once and for all.” “We don’t trust Israel,” he said.
According to a Palestinian source close to the negotiators of Hamas, “the Israeli party presented the first letters on Tuesday on the withdrawal of the troops, as well as the mechanism and calendar of the exchange of hostages and prisoners.”
In his response to the Trump Plan, Hamas agreed to free the hostages, but claimed the end of the Israeli offensive and the total Israeli withdrawal of Gaza. He did not mention his own disarmament, the key point of the proposal.
Two years after the October 7 attack
Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the plan, but emphasized that his army would remain in most Gaza and repeated that Hamas should be disarmed.
The October 7 attack led to the death of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an evaluation established by the AFP of the official data. Of the 251 people kidnapped that day, 47 are still hostage in Gaza, 25 of which died according to the army.
In response, Israel launched a military campaign that devastated the Palestinian territory, caused a humanitarian disaster and made the Ministry of Health of Hamas, more than 67,160 dead, mostly civilians.
The UN declared that the state of hunger in a part of Gaza and its researchers claim that Israel is committing a genocide. Statements rejected by Israel.
Source: BFM TV
