 Yahya Sinwar is the leader of Hamas in Gaza and is believed to have masterminded the October 7th attacks. He was released from Israeli prison in 2011 in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Leading up to the talks, Hamas leaders dropped one of their key demands, a permanent ceasefire. Instead, they said they would accept guarantees from the mediators that a pause could lead to a long-term ceasefire.