An Egyptian source close to the Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Sharm El Sheikh announced on October 8th, 2025, that mediators have set a deadline of Friday morning for Hamas and Israeli parties to announce and sign the first phase of an agreement. This development follows ongoing diplomatic efforts between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Israeli and Hamas representatives. During the reporting window of October 8th, 2025, from 6:08 PM to 6:38 PM UTC, this new information from an Egyptian source close to the negotiations was shared with Sky News Arabia. The source indicated that the mediators have given the parties until Friday morning to reach a conclusion on the initial phase of the Gaza agreement. This timeline aligns with previous reports from October 8th, which suggested a potential deal could be reached by Friday, with some Israeli officials expressing optimism that a deal would be reached within 24-36 hours. Previous reports from October 8th noted that U.S. envoys arrived in Sharm El Sheikh to advance ceasefire and hostage release negotiations. Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism, with one stating progress was being made and that only a couple of points remained for a potential agreement. U.S. officials also confirmed good progress in conversations that could conclude within days. The head of the Egyptian Government Press Bureau, Diaa El-Rhivan, stated that negotiations were in advanced stages, focusing on Israeli withdrawal and hostage release settlements. In parallel developments reported earlier on October 8th, the Israel Security Agency (GSS) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the seizure of a significant Iranian arms shipment bound for militants in Judea and Samaria, which included items such as Claymore mines, drones, and anti-tank rockets. The operation leading to the seizure stemmed from an investigation involving an arms dealer linked to Iran's IRGC Special Operations Directorate and the Quds Force.
