Ahead of talks, Hamas calls for swift hostage-prisoner exchange

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in Ankara, Turkiye on Sunday

Cairo: Hamas on Sunday called for a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel, as negotiators from both sides prepared to meet in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza. Foreign ministers of several countries, including Egypt, said the talks were a “real opportunity” to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. “Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions,” a senior Hamas official said on condition of anonymity. US secretary of state Macro Rubio on Sunday urged Israel to stop bombing Gaza ahead of the discussions in Egypt. “You can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop,” Rubio told CBS News talk show “Face the Nation”. “There can’t be a war going on in the middle of it.”Negotiators are due to gather in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu expressing hope that the hostages could be released within days. An Israeli govt spokesperson said the country’s delegation would be leaving Sunday evening, with talks slated to start Monday. Cairo confirmed it would be hosting a delegation from Hamas for talks on “the ground conditions and details of the exchange of all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners”.The White House said Trump had also sent two envoys to Egypt – his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East (West Asia) negotiator Steve Witkoff. Trump has warned he will “not tolerate delay” from Hamas, urging the group to move quickly towards a deal “or else all bets will be off”. “When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal,” the US president posted on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Israel’s military chief warned Sunday that if negotiations to secure the release of hostages fail to achieve their aims, the military will return to fighting in Gaza.