SHARM EL-SHEIKH, October 8, 2025 — The third day of talks on Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the Gaza war has seen intensified diplomatic efforts in Egypt, as U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived to bolster negotiations.
Their presence marks the highest-level American participation so far in the mediation process, joining Qatar’s Prime Minister and Turkey’s intelligence chief, who arrived earlier this week.
According to sources familiar with the talks, Hamas has submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released in exchange for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Among the demands is the return of the body of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in August last year, as part of the conditions for freeing 20 remaining Israeli captives.
However, deep divisions remain between the parties, primarily over Hamas’ disarmament, which the group refuses to accept without a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Diplomatic sources say there is cautious optimism that a hostage release deal could be reached by the weekend, a move seen as a potential turning point toward ending the two-year war in Gaza.
