Hamas Calls for Swift Prisoner Swap as Gaza Truce Talks Begin
As crucial ceasefire talks begin in Egypt, Hamas has called for a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel. The push follows the group's positive response to a US-backed peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump. A senior Hamas official stated the group is "very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process." The proposed deal would see 47 hostages held in Gaza released in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and over 1,700 detainees arrested during the war. Ahead of the talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to stop its bombing campaign, noting that "you can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes." The White House has sent envoys to Egypt to support the negotiations, which all parties hope can end the […]