Hamas Signals Readiness for Ceasefire, Demands Immediate Prisoner Exchange in Egypt Talks
Cairo, Egypt – October 5, 2025 – Hamas officials have expressed a strong desire to reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict with Israel and are prioritizing an immediate exchange of prisoners as negotiations resume in Egypt this weekend. Representatives from Hamas and israel are set to participate in indirect talks in Egypt on Sunday and Monday, facilitated by mediators, to finalize details of a potential ceasefire.
The negotiations come after Hamas approved a peace plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump. A senior Hamas official, speaking anonymously due to not being authorized to discuss the matter publicly, stated, “Hamas really wants to reach an agreement to end the war and promptly start the process of exchanging prisoners in accordance with field conditions.”
The Hamas delegation departed from Doha and is expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday before proceeding to Sharm El-Sheikh for the negotiations. According to a Palestinian source close to Hamas,the delegations will be housed in the same building but shielded from media access.
A key focus of the talks will be establishing a timeline and logistical framework for the release of prisoners held by both sides. Hamas is seeking the release of approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, and also over 1,700 Palestinians arrested from the Gaza Strip following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel - the event that triggered the current conflict. In return, Hamas is expected to present a list of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.
The Hamas official emphasized that Israel must demonstrate a “sincere intention” to implement the Trump plan, adding, “if the occupation has a sincere intention to reach an agreement, Hamas is ready.”
Beyond prisoner exchange logistics, Hamas is demanding a complete cessation of Israeli military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, including a halt to all air activity, reconnaissance missions, and drone surveillance, as well as a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from within the city of Gaza. In response, Hamas and other resistance factions have pledged to cease their own military actions.
Negotiators are also expected to discuss a map detailing the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, synchronized with the prisoner exchange process.
This round of negotiations represents a significant step towards potentially ending the nearly two-year-long conflict, but the success of the talks hinges on both sides’ willingness to compromise and adhere to the terms of the proposed peace plan.
[Link to video: “Approve Trump proposal, Hamas Ready to Negotiated”]
(yld/gbr)