Hamas says it has exchanged a list of names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released in a swap deal, as key figures arrive in Egypt for a third day of peace talks. Listen to The World podcast as you scroll.
Wednesday 8 October 2025 16:14, UK
As talks over Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan continue for a third day, what is being discussed by negotiators in Egypt?
An Israeli source has told CNN that negotiations are focused on where Israeli forces will withdraw to and the timeline for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
“The fact that senior officials from all the countries are there is encouraging,” the source added.
Earlier, Hamas said negotiators had exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages who would be released as part of a deal (see 8.58 post).
However, the timing of the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan has not yet been agreed.
As we reported this morning (see 8.49 post), Israel’s military has again intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla, which this time included nine boats.
It came after last week’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which included over 40 boats and prominent passengers such as Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.
But the tactic is not new – activists have been sailing to Gaza since the late 2000s.
Then, as now, the goal was to bring aid to the territory and raise attention to the Israeli maritime blockade, which restricts access to the Strip, including for vital supplies.
It has been in place since 2007 alongside restrictions on land borders and airspace after Hamas forcibly took control of the territory. Israel has cited security reasons, such as keeping Hamas from importing arms.
The most notable incident occurred in 2010 when Israeli soldiers intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and killed nine activists.
It also marked the inception of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an activist network that has been coordinating many of the flotillas, including the most recent crossings.
Global Sumud Flotilla
The activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail in September from Italy and Spain. Both countries sent navy ships to escort the boats for part of the journey.
The activists said they were targeted by drones three times, though no casualties were reported.
Watch: Flotilla activist accuses Israel of abuse
Last Wednesday, Israeli soldiers intercepted and boarded the boats off the coast of Gaza. Over 450 activists were arrested, who have since been mostly deported, with only six people remaining in Israeli detention as of midday.
Several activists have alleged mistreatment in prison, which Israel has denied.
The latest interception
The flotilla that was stopped this morning had been organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza and included nine boats and some 150 activists.
It had departed from Italy in late September and early October, led by the 68-metre Conscience.
Activists claimed they were carrying healthcare workers, journalists and $110,000 (£82,000) worth of medicines, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies.
They said this morning that they were intercepted just before dawn, 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.
Watch: Israeli security forces intercept another Gaza flotilla
As talks aimed at implementing Donald Trump’s peace plan in Gaza continue this afternoon, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says 10 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours.
It adds that 61 people have also been injured.
Meanwhile, Israeli, Hamas and US delegations are meeting in Egypt for a third day of indirect ceasefire talks – take a look at our 7.45 post to see who’s involved.
Health ministry officials say more than 67,000 people have been killed since the war began. Their figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.
Images are coming in today of civilians facing the aftermath of another Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
A three-storey building can be seen partially collapsed in the Sabra neighbourhood of the city as locals pick through the rubble and assess the damage.
Israel has only halted “certain bombings” as it continues talks with Hamas and mediators in Egypt, despite calls from Donald Trump to halt strikes entirely, as required by his peace plan.
Donald Trump’s trusted representatives, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, have joined the Gaza peace talks in Egypt today.
Sticking points remain – but that is seemingly not keeping those involved from making contingency plans for the moment an agreement is inked.
It seems that even Trump himself could fly in under that scenario – at least according to Egypt’s president.
In a speech earlier today, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi revealed he had invited the US president to attend a potential signing ceremony for a peace deal.
“It would be truly wonderful if, should an agreement be reached, you could attend its signing,” he said, according to reports from local media.
Meanwhile, Israeli media said today that its government was also making plans to host Trump in the event a hostage release deal was agreed.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio is expected to attend a meeting tomorrow in Paris to discuss Gaza’s post-war transition, according to news agency Reuters.
Ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and some Arab countries will also reportedly attend.
The summit is intended to discuss how to implement Donald Trump’s peace plan, and what resources and contributions other countries may be able to commit.
It will be held in parallel with the ongoing negotiations in Egypt.
As we reported this morning, Israeli security forces have intercepted another activist-run flotilla carrying aid to Gaza in an attempt to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of the territory. Nine boats were said to have been halted during the operation.
In the video below, you can watch the moment Israeli soldiers board one of the boats and attempt to destroy a security camera.
The flotilla activists that Israeli forces intercepted today and last week said they were carrying more than $110,000 (£82,000) worth of medicines, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies to Gaza.
Israel continues to control access to the territory and strictly limits the amount of food and other supplies that reaches the Strip.
As of last weekend, 459 people, including 154 children, had died from malnutrition and starvation since the war started, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
These pictures show Palestinians gathering to receive food from a charity kitchen in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, today.
During a trip to India, Sir Keir Starmer was asked today what action he would take after some defied his calls to step down what he described as “un-British” pro-Palestine protests on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
The prime minister pointed to work being carried out by Shabana Mahmood to review protest laws, saying: “I’ve asked the home secretary to look more broadly at what other powers are available, how they’re being used, and whether they should be changed in any way.
“I think we need to go further than that in relation to some of the chants that are going on at some of these protests.”
As we reported yesterday, hundreds of students took part in protests across the country on the anniversary of the attacks and less than a week after the Manchester synagogue attack.
Watch: Sky News reports from London protests
Some protesters could be heard chanting: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Some consider the slogan to be antisemitic as they believe it calls for the eradication of Israel, although this interpretation is disputed.
The home secretary also announced over the weekend that police may be given greater powers to restrict protests.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free