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Hamas says it handed over list of Israelis and Palestinians for swap deal
Hamas and Israel exchanged prisoner lists as part of ceasefire talks mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt amid efforts to end the Gaza conflict that has killed over 67,000 people, Gaza authorities said.
On Wednesday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Hamas announced it had given Israel lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners for a proposed swap deal during ongoing indirect talks.
These negotiations follow the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which Israel says killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza, prompting Israel's military offensive.
Talks focus on ending hostilities, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and executing the swap while international mediators like the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt participate.
According to Gaza authorities, Israel’s offensive has killed about 67,000 people, and Egypt’s president called negotiation messages 'very encouraging' as optimism grows among mediators.
Despite progress, major disputes such as Hamas’s demand for a Palestinian state before disarmament and persistent global outrage over Gaza's crisis suggest key obstacles remain.