Optimism Surges in Sharm el-Sheikh: Hostage Deal Could Be Reached This Week

The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, currently underway in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, have entered a critical and fast-moving phase, fueling cautious optimism among key international mediators and participating officials. As the third day of talks wraps up, multiple high-level sources suggest that a breakthrough agreement, focused on the first phase of the U.S.-backed peace plan, is potentially just days away.
The negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, are centered on implementing U.S. President Donald Trump’s comprehensive peace plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, a large-scale exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and the eventual end of the war in Gaza.
The Current State of Negotiations
The prevailing mood in Sharm el-Sheikh is one of guarded but growing expectation, supported by statements from key delegations:
◦ :flag-il: Israeli Senior Official: “Progress” and “Cautious Optimism”
A senior Israeli official confirmed that there is tangible progress in the talks. While the Israeli delegation remains characteristically reserved, the official expressed “cautious optimism” regarding the possibility of an initial agreement. Israel views the talks as primarily technical negotiations over a plan that both sides have already agreed to in principle.
◦ :flag-qa: Qatari Mediators: Friday Deadline Eyed
Sources close to the Qatari mediation team, which is heavily invested in the talks, believe an agreement can be reached by Friday. This timeframe suggests that the most difficult sticking points—likely revolving around the mechanism for the release, the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, and guarantees of non-resumption of fighting—are being seriously addressed. The stated goal is to announce the deal this week and begin the highly sensitive process of releasing the hostages next week.
◦ :us: White House Official: Deal “Within Days”
A White House official echoed the positive momentum, confirming that negotiators are making “good progress.” The official suggested that an agreement could be reached “within days,” highlighting the urgent push by the U.S. to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages—approximately 48, with around 20 believed to still be alive—and establish a ceasefire. The arrival of top U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, on Wednesday was seen as a move to pressure the sides and dive deep into the toughest implementation details.
Disagreements on the Timetable
While the overall mood is positive, a clear disagreement remains on the immediate timeline for a full ceasefire announcement:
◦ :flag-tr: Turkish Foreign Minister: Wednesday Optimism
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that the negotiations had made “a lot of headway” and suggested that a ceasefire could be announced as early as Wednesday. Fidan emphasized that the talks, which Turkey is actively participating in, are focused on securing the ceasefire, exchanging prisoners, coordinating an Israeli troop withdrawal timetable, and increasing humanitarian aid.
◦ :flag-il: Israeli Doubt on Wednesday Announcement
Israeli officials immediately cast doubt on the Wednesday ceasefire timetable cited by the Turkish Foreign Minister. This skepticism likely reflects the complex technical and security challenges involved in finalizing the lists for a prisoner exchange and agreeing on the specifics of initial Israeli troop redeployment within the Gaza Strip—issues that are generally understood to take several days to finalize.
Key Issues Under Discussion
The third day of talks saw high-ranking officials from mediating nations—including the Qatari Prime Minister, the Turkish Intelligence Chief, and senior U.S. and Egyptian envoys—join the indirect discussions, signaling that the toughest issues are now on the table.
Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu confirmed on Wednesday that both sides have exchanged lists of the prisoners and hostages to be released under the initial phase of the deal, a crucial step toward implementation.
The key points of discussion currently focus on:
◦ Hostage-Prisoner Exchange Mechanism: Finalizing the lists and the criteria for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, including those serving life sentences, in exchange for the 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza.
◦ Ceasefire Guarantees: Hamas continues to seek firm and explicit guarantees from President Trump and the mediators that Israel will not resume its military operations in Gaza once the hostages are released.
◦ Israeli Troop Withdrawal: Negotiating the maps and mechanism for the initial, partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a necessary precursor to the full withdrawal envisioned by the broader peace plan.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has characterized the negotiations as “very encouraging,” echoing the general sense of momentum that has intensified on the two-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks. While critical gaps remain on long-term issues—such as the disarmament of Hamas and the specifics of the international governance structure—the current focus on the immediate ceasefire and hostage exchange suggests a high-stakes, unified international effort to end the most destructive phase of the nearly two-year war. The world now awaits the outcome of the next 48 hours.