Hamas has announced its willingness to release 34 Israeli hostages as part of the “first phase” of a proposed prisoner exchange deal. According to a senior Hamas official, the list includes women, children, elderly individuals, and sick captives still held in Gaza.
The announcement comes amid ongoing indirect negotiations with Israel, though the group has yet to provide a definitive list of the hostages for the exchange.
Verification Process
The Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the group needs additional time to confirm the status of the hostages.
“Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead. However, the group needs a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify those who are alive and those who are dead,” the official explained.
Background of the Conflict
The hostages were seized during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which sparked the ongoing conflict. Out of the 251 hostages originally taken, 96 remain in Gaza, according to the Israeli military, which believes 34 of them are deceased.
Israeli Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that negotiations are still in progress. Hamas has yet to deliver a formal list of hostages to be included in the exchange.
Negotiation Challenges
While the proposal indicates a possible step towards resolving the hostage crisis, the process remains complex. The need to verify the hostages’ condition and finalize terms of the deal prolongs the negotiations, keeping the situation tense.
