Hamas had provided mediators with a list of 34 Israeli captives taken during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The list reportedly includes women, children, and older or injured individuals who could be released as part of the “first phase of a prisoner exchange deal.

A Hamas leader told Newsweek that "we can go to an agreement immediately" if Israel changed its course on negotiations.

After the meeting, Netanyahu sent the head of Mossad and others to Qatar to "advance" talks to return hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.