Gaza Strip: A senior Hamas official announced on Sunday that the group is prepared to release 34 Israeli hostages in the “first phase” of a potential prisoner swap deal with Israel. This statement comes amid intensified indirect negotiations in Qatar, facilitated by mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
In December, Qatar voiced optimism that the talks were regaining “momentum” following Trump’s election victory. However, progress stalled as Hamas and Israel exchanged accusations of introducing new conditions and hurdles.
The proposed exchange, if successful, would include women, children, the elderly, and sick captives. However, the official noted that some hostages might be deceased, requiring additional time to confirm their status. Israel has claimed that 34 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack are dead, while 96 remain in Gaza.
Hamas accused Israel of imposing new conditions on the talks, while Israel reported strikes on over 100 “terror targets” in Gaza over the weekend. International mediators and local leaders continue to press for a resolution, hoping that the mooted deal will mark a step towards de-escalation in the region.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s assault, has resulted in over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
