US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Egypt as progress was made on Wednesday during Gaza peace talks.
Hamas and Israel have exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages to be released, according to senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou.
He expressed optimism about reaching a deal saying that the group had demonstrated positivity as discussions continue on Wednesday.
The group set out its conditions for an agreement to end Israel’s offensive on Gaza during the second day of talks in Egypt.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group are being held at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and focus on a plan proposed by US president Donald Trump.
A US team, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is set to arrive to join mediation efforts on Wednesday. They will also be joined by prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani of Qatar, who has played a key role in previous talks.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump expressed optimism about the talks. Speaking at the Oval Office, he said: “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.”
The critical difference that means peace is closer than ever in Israel-Hamas talks
Both sides are scrutinising a 20-point peace plan proposed by US president Donald Trump, as they take part in talks that senior officials briefed on the discussions told The Independent are “the closest we’ve ever been” to the end of the war.
The deal – originally 21 points long – was first presented to leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority countries in New York last month. It was changed at the 11th hour, which initially caused confusion and concern in some quarters that the process might collapse before it had started.
Bel Trew reports:
UK arms exports to Israel reach record high
As peace talks get underway in Egypt, it has been revealed that UK arms received by Israel reached a record high in 2025, according to a new report by Channel 4.
Data analysis of Israel Tax Authority customs data found that Israel imported nearly £1m worth of UK munitions in the first nine months of 2025.
It is more than double the amount received by the Israeli state in any of the previous three years.
The precise nature of the items wasn’t specified, but the arms were listed under a category that included bombs, grenades, torpedoes, missiles, and ammunition.
Israel’s Ben-Gvir calls for ‘Gaza victory’ at Al-Aqsa mosque
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday to make a speech about “victory” over Gaza.
The site is one of the most sensitive and contentious in the region and is a holy site for both Muslims and Jewish people.
Ben-Gvir declared that Israel was “winning” and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue “complete victory” over Hamas.
“Every house in Gaza has a picture of the Temple Mount, and today, two years later, we are winning on the Temple Mount. We are the owners of the Temple Mount,” he said in a video released by his Jewish Power Party.
“I only pray that our prime minister will allow a complete victory in Gaza as well – to destroy Hamas, with God’s help we will return the hostages, and we will win a complete victory.”
Can Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize – and who nominated him?
President Donald Trump is waiting to hear if his dream will come true this week – whether his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize becomes a reality.
He doesn’t have much longer to hold on – the announcement will be made on Friday.
He’s been very visible in international diplomacy. So can he win?
Two years of unprecedented bloodshed in Gaza: ‘Our greatest hope is that this nightmare will end’
or two years, the people of Gaza have endured one of the most devastating bombardments and humanitarian catastrophes of our time.
Israel’s offensive and siege of the enclave, launched in the bloody aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, has killed more than 67,000 people, including at least 19,000 children, according to local officials.
Egyptian president hearing ‘very encouraging things’ from Gaza talks
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has provided an update on Gaza peace talks on Wednesday.
He said he had been hearing “very encouraging things” as discussions on a ceasefire and end to the conflict continues.
Disarmament a sticking point for Israel and Hamas
Hamas and Israel continue to disagree about disarmament, according to reports.
Israeli cabinet member Zeev Elkin reiterated his expectation for Hamas to disarm, he told the country’s public broadcaster, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Hamas told Israel to “lower their expectations a lot in this regard” in an interview with Drop Site News.
Hamas and Israel negotiators swap prisoner lists as progress made
Negotiators from Hamas and Israel have exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages who will be released once a deal is reached, according to senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou.
Mr Al-Nounou expressed optimism about reaching the deal saying that the group had demonstrated positivity during ongoing Gaza talks in Egypt on Wednesday.
“Negotiations focused on the mechanisms for implementing the end of the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners,” he said.
“The lists of prisoners required to be released were exchanged today according to the agreed-upon criteria and numbers. Indirect negotiations continue today with the participation of all parties and mediators.”
Israel prevents new aid flotilla from reaching Gaza and says activists will be deported
Qatar demands ‘written international guarantees’ from Israel
Qatar has demanded “strong, written international guarantees” to ensure Israel carries out its obligations under the proposed ceasefire agreement to end Israel’s two-year-long offensive in Gaza.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told Al-Arabiya that Qatar wants to ensure that what is currently being negotiated in Egypt will lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the entry of more aid, and a permanent end to the war.
He said that the parties have agreed on 20 principles but “the devil is in the details, as they say in English”.
Mr Ansari told reporters, “I have no doubt that this round of negotiations is a process in which all parties are strongly committed to reaching a consensus, but there are many details to consider.”
The statement comes ahead of Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani’s visit to Egypt today, where he will join the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
