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Hamas announced on Wednesday its intention to release ten hostages as part of discussions for a ceasefire in Gaza, following positive signals from Israel regarding the possibility of finalising a deal to halt the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory.
This announcement from the organisation followed four days of indirect negotiations facilitated by Qatar, as the United States indicated its expectation that an agreement for a 60-day truce would be reached by the end of the week.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff noted that a component of the agreement would involve the return of 10 living captives taken during Hamas’s assault on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war.
Out of 251 hostages abducted during the attack on Israeli communities near Gaza, 49 remain in captivity, with the Israeli military stating that 27 of them are deceased.
In its declaration, Hamas acknowledged that significant challenges persisted in the discussions, particularly concerning the unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region, and “genuine guarantees” for sustainable peace.
Earlier, Israel appeared to align with US President Donald Trump and his optimistic outlook for resolving the conflict, as discussions in Doha continued into a fourth day, amid reported concerns regarding its stance on aid.
Israeli Army Chief Eyal Zamir stated in a televised address that military actions had laid the groundwork for a deal that would facilitate the return of Israeli hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, after meeting with Trump in Washington on Tuesday night, maintained his firm resolve to eliminate Hamas, expressing optimism that an agreement was imminent.
Netanyahu remains determined to eradicate the threat posed by Hamas to Israel, despite increasing domestic and international pressure to conclude the conflict, particularly as the toll of soldiers lost to improvised explosive devices and ambushes in Gaza continues to rise.
On Wednesday, the military reported that another soldier had died in combat in Gaza.
According to a tally based on Israeli official statistics, Hamas’s October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 individuals, mostly civilians.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has resulted in at least 57,680 fatalities in Gaza, predominantly among civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. The United Nations deems these figures credible.
