Cautious optimism at Gaza talks as Hamas hands over lists of names for swap deal

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City. File picture: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

Hamas handed over lists on Wednesday of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged in a swap, and said it was optimistic about negotiations to end the war in Gaza, while US president Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy were due to join the talks.

Indirect negotiations are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal, the Palestinian militant group added, in a seemingly upbeat assessment of the talks over a plan put forward by Trump, the closest diplomats have come to silencing the guns.