Talks on a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Reports suggest that negotiations are being held for a 45-day ceasefire under the guarantee of the United States. It is expected that Hamas will respond after evaluating the proposal.

According to Israeli media reports, discussions have been held for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, long-term ceasefire arrangements, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of about 10 living Israeli prisoners and several Israeli remains. It was stated that Israel agreed that if Hamas accepted the agreement, the U.S. would intervene as mediators for the second stage of the agreement, which would involve negotiations to end the attacks.

This development is considered a significant turning point in the negotiations as Israel is now reconsidering the request that was previously rejected. Hamas’s delegation left Cairo for consultations after meeting with Egyptian officials, according to a report from the Qatari-based Arabi al-Jadid newspaper. It was indicated that in the first stage of the ceasefire, Israel is expected to release 66 life-term prisoners and hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians in exchange for the release of 8 living Israeli prisoners in Gaza and the commencement of humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza.

Sources from Hamas speaking to Al Jazeera reported that the new offer from Egypt includes a 45-day ceasefire and the start of humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza in exchange for the release of half of the living or deceased Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip in the first week of the agreement. The offer suggests that after 45 days, the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas releases the Israeli prisoners in Gaza. Hamas sources expressed surprise at Egypt’s insistence on Hamas surrendering its weapons openly and stated that they conveyed to the Egyptian side that they would not accept this condition. They also relayed to the Egyptians that Hamas believed the path to an agreement lied in the cessation of attacks and the end of the Israeli occupation in Gaza.

Sources speaking to Yediot Ahronot from Israel mentioned that the discussions focused on Hamas’s guarantees for ending the war and achieving a permanent ceasefire rather than specifying the number of prisoners to be released. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly aimed to release 10 Israeli prisoners from Gaza as part of the negotiations. He stated that while the agreement was not finalized yet, the government was determined to bring back all prisoners. Top Israeli sources claimed that there had been no progress yet but indicated that significant developments were taking place.

Furthermore, it was reported that Israeli-prisoner families who had met with U.S. and Israeli officials in recent days were informed about the progress and the possibility of reaching an agreement within two weeks. A report from Yediot Aharonot highlighted that Israeli officials believed there had been concrete progress in the negotiations for prisoner exchanges and that there could be a potential change in Hamas’s position.

In light of Haaretz newspaper’s Amos Harel, it was mentioned that there are still 59 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, of which 21 are presumed to be alive, and he referred to Egypt’s latest proposal that finds a middle ground between the demands of Israel and Hamas. This proposal foresees the release of many Palestinian prisoners in exchange for eight Israeli prisoners being set free and about a two-month ceasefire.

Harel noted that the Trump administration hoped to push Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu into a corner in hopes that after the conflicts, he would not have the strength to engage in war again. Harel commented that it should be stated that it was Israel and not Hamas who had seriously violated the ceasefire in January. Hamas officials reportedly sensed renewed tension between Washington and Tel Aviv. With Hamas avoiding direct confrontation with Israeli ground forces both in the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip, Harel highlighted Israel’s current unilateral warfare, stating that Hamas was strategically waiting for opportunities to capitalize on Israel’s vulnerabilities while expecting U.S. intervention to end the war. Harel also mentioned that Israel was on alert, likely influenced by concerns regarding how effectively reserve troops could support military operations.