In a bold diplomatic move, Hamas said it will start freeing Israeli hostages on Monday morning—just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi chair an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh to unveil a new Gaza peace plan.
The first phase of the agreement calls for Hamas to release captives—20 of whom Israel believes remain alive—in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas official Osama Hamdan said the swap would kick off as planned Monday morning.
The summit, hosted in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, will bring together leaders from over 20 nations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez and France’s President Emmanuel Macron. There was no immediate word on whether Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attend.
Hamas has opted out of the talks, with its political bureau member Hossam Badran noting that previous negotiations mainly involved Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Despite this apparent breakthrough, planners still face the daunting task of securing a long-term political solution that requires Hamas to disarm and step aside from Gaza’s governance.
Under the proposed plan, Israel would conduct a phased withdrawal from key Gaza cities, to be replaced by a multinational force from Egypt, Qatar, TĂĽrkiye and the United Arab Emirates, all coordinated by a U.S.-led command center in Israel. The summit aims to end the Gaza war, enhance peace efforts and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.
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Hamas says to release Israeli hostages before Gaza peace summit
cgtn.com
