From words to a deal: Gas negotiations are close to a crucial stage

The negotiations taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, are approaching a crucial stage: the parties are discussing the exchange of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and a cease-fire. Experts note that the first phase of the agreement may be reached in the coming days, although key differences remain on the further implementation of the deal. The next 48 hours will be crucial for the fate of the negotiations, said US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Hamas demanded that the transfer of the body of its slain leader Yahya Sinwar be included in the terms of the deal with Israel.

Palestinians demand the return of Sinwar's body

The indirect talks, which are taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, have reached the stage of discussing specific mechanisms for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the exchange of prisoners. According to the adviser to the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Taher al-Nounou, the Palestinian movement and Israel exchanged lists of hostages and prisoners who are planned to be released as part of the agreement. He noted that the negotiations are taking place in an "optimistic atmosphere," and the mediators are making efforts to resolve the remaining differences.

The Hamas movement has put forward a new condition — to receive the bodies of its leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed. According to media reports, the demand is included in the list of points discussed in the framework of the agreement on the release of all hostages in Gaza. According to sources, Hamas officials say that the transfer of hostages will take more than 72 hours, as the exchange process is associated with logistical problems.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Hamas also insists on the release of a number of Palestinian political and military figures, including Marwan Barghouti (one of the leaders of Fatah) and Ahmad Saadat (Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine), whom Israel considers key figures in the armed resistance of the early 2000s. According to the newspaper, Israel had previously rejected the demand to return the bodies of the Sinvar brothers. This was confirmed by the Palestinian agency Maan, which is close to the movement. Yahya Sinwar was considered one of the main organizers of the attack on October 7, 2023. The former Hamas leader was assassinated by the Israeli military in October 2024.

— The Sinwar brothers are symbols of Hamas' military resistance to the Israeli offensive. The movement wants to turn their funeral into a public information event and a demonstration of the large support base for the Palestinian movement," orientalist Leonid Tsukanov told Izvestia.

The expert notes that this can be considered part of the struggle for influence in post-war Gaza.

Among the unresolved points are the disarmament of Hamas, guarantees that Israel will not resume hostilities after the release of the hostages, as well as the withdrawal of its troops. Hamas demands the daily admission of at least 400 trucks with humanitarian aid and emphasizes that the surrender of the bodies of Israeli hostages is possible only after the completion of military operations and the withdrawal of the army.

According to Iraqi expert Safaa al-Assam, American security guarantees for Hamas leaders who decide to leave Gaza may be limited to promises that they will not be hit by rocket attacks.

"Such guarantees do not exclude other risks, and the movement understands that complete security is impossible in the current conditions," the expert told Izvestia.

The deal can be completed by Friday.

The first phase of the agreement — within the framework of US President Donald Trump's plan for a settlement in Gaza — can be agreed by Friday if the current positive trends continue, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reports, citing Egyptian sources.

According to Leonid Tsukanov, despite the gradual progress of the parties towards a compromise, many unresolved issues remain on the agenda of the negotiations. The expert notes that there is still no clarity about the future governance of Gaza and the mechanisms for disarming Hamas. Even the approval of the exchange lists, according to him, is accompanied by disputes.

"It is expected that the mediators will announce in the coming days that a consensus has been reached on the first stage (the exchange of hostages and prisoners), but the implementation of further stages of the deal still raises serious questions," the expert said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hamas have officially expressed their willingness to reach an agreement, but each side accompanies the agreement with serious reservations. Israel and Washington expect actual capitulation from Hamas, while the movement itself seeks to maintain some of its positions and influence.

— The issue of the transfer of weapons remains one of the most controversial. Currently, no structure has been created that could take over the armament of Hamas, and the parties themselves interpret in different ways which types of weapons are subject to surrender. Hamas insists on separating offensive and defensive weapons, while Israel demands the complete demilitarization of the movement and the Gaza Strip, al-Assam notes.

Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday morning. They joined the negotiations. According to Axios sources, it is the arrival of Witkoff and Kushner that should be a crucial stage in the negotiation process. The mediators hope that their participation will allow the parties to reach final agreements within the next few days.

The discussion was also joined by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, the heads of the intelligence services of Turkey and Egypt. Israeli Minister of Strategic Planning Ron Dermer is present at the meetings.

American officials express cautious optimism and emphasize that Witkoff and Kushner "will not leave Egypt without an agreement," Axios reports. Trump said that the next 48 hours would be crucial for the fate of the negotiations. But according to Asharq Al-Awsat sources, the main obstacle is the ongoing military operation. Hamas is seeking an end to the attacks and the expansion of temporary "humanitarian corridors" to ensure the safe transfer of hostages and bodies of the dead.