Israel negotiates second phase of hostage exchange with Hamas in Cairo
npr.org —
An Israeli delegation is in Cairo to discuss the second phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas. In the first phase, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel agreed to free about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem, emphasizing the importance of releasing remaining Israeli hostages. The deal has raised questions about the unequal nature of the exchanges. Some released Palestinian prisoners had been convicted of serious crimes. The negotiations reflect ongoing complexities in the dynamics between Israel and Hamas.