Visuals from Gaza (AP image)
A senior Hamas official on Sunday said the Palestinian militant group is eager to reach an agreement to end the war and carry out a prisoner exchange with Israel, as negotiators gather in Egypt for talks.Israeli and Hamas delegations are set to discuss details in a bid to end nearly two years of conflict in Gaza, after Hamas approved a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.Hamas negotiators travelling from Doha are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday before heading to Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect discussions with the Israeli delegation, the official said.”Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions,” he added.“The occupation must not obstruct the implementation of President Trump’s plan. If the occupation has genuine intentions to reach an agreement, Hamas is ready.”The source added that the negotiations aim to set a timeline for preparing field conditions for the transfer of captives in Gaza as a step towards launching the prisoner exchange, as reported by news agency AFP. Hamas has demanded that Israel halt all military operations across Gaza, including air, reconnaissance and drone activity and withdraw from Gaza City. In return, Hamas and allied resistance groups will suspend military actions.The talks are expected to cover Israeli-provided maps showing withdrawal routes and timelines, alongside prisoner exchange plans. The Hamas delegation will also present lists of Palestinian prisoners for release in exchange for Israeli captives.Under Trump’s plan, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and over 1700 detainees from Gaza arrested after October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the ongoing conflict.
