 Yahya Sinwar is the leader of Hamas in Gaza and is believed to have masterminded the October 7 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.