Cairo: Efforts to end the prolonged Gaza conflict have taken a major step forward after Hamas confirmed that it has handed over a list of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners as part of a proposed exchange deal. The move marks a key stage in ongoing indirect negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

According to reports, both sides have agreed in principle to the first phase of a broader ceasefire and prisoner-hostage exchange plan, which forms part of a peace proposal backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Under the terms being discussed, Hamas would release 20 Israeli hostages believed to be among those still alive in Gaza within 72 hours of the agreement’s implementation.

In return, Israel would release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and over 1,700 others detained during the recent Gaza war.

The proposal also includes a provision for the exchange of remains: for every deceased Israeli captive returned, Israel would hand over the remains of 15 Palestinian detainees. Israeli forces are also expected to pull back to agreed positions within Gaza as part of the initial phase of the deal.

While the agreement signals progress after months of stalemate, negotiators caution that numerous challenges remain. Key unresolved issues include the timing and verification of prisoner releases, the sequence of troop withdrawals, and the future governance of Gaza.

Israel insists that Hamas must commit to disarmament, a condition the group has resisted until guarantees for its own security and Gaza’s reconstruction are made clear.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has confirmed that his government is actively involved in persuading Hamas to support the plan. Ankara, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been playing a central role in mediating between the parties.

Despite optimism surrounding the exchange lists, skepticism remains about whether the agreement will hold once implementation begins. Similar efforts in the past have faltered due to political opposition and breakdowns in trust between the two sides.

In Israel, right-wing factions have voiced concern over the scale of the proposed prisoner release, while within Hamas, internal divisions could pose challenges to compliance.

At present, Israel believes that 48 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks remain in Gaza, with around 20 still alive. The successful completion of the first phase could pave the way for a broader ceasefire and open the door to long-term political negotiations, but much depends on whether both sides can honor their commitments in the coming days.

International observers and mediators are expected to closely monitor developments, as the region awaits signs that the first hostages and prisoners are being released—a moment that could mark the beginning of a fragile but hopeful path toward peace.