DaysofPal— Hamas has agreed to release 34 Israeli captives in the initial phase of a potential prisoner exchange deal with Israel, a senior Hamas official said on Sunday, as indirect talks on a truce and hostage release resumed in Qatar.
The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, are seen as a critical effort to halt the prolonged war.
The discussions come as the war, now entering its 15th month, continues to devastate Gaza. Israeli airstrikes on Sunday alone killed at least 23 people, according to rescue teams.
The genocide has already left over 45,000 Palestinians dead, with another 11,000 missing under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been decimated, with hospitals targeted and journalists among the casualties.
This renewed push for a deal follows a brief truce in November 2023, during which Hamas released 80 Israeli captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
According to the Hamas official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, the first phase of the proposed exchange would see the release of women, children, elderly individuals, and those in poor health.
However, the official noted that more time is needed to verify the captives’ conditions.
“Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or deceased,” the official said. “We require a week of calm to communicate with the captors and confirm their status.”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, however, stated that Hamas had not yet provided the necessary list of hostages for the proposed agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing accusations of war crimes in Gaza by the International Criminal Court (ICC), has yet to comment further on the matter.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has intensified pressure on negotiators, warning of severe consequences if the hostages are not released before his inauguration on January 20. Trump has promised “hell to pay” if a deal is not reached promptly.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the toll of the war on Gaza remains staggering. More than 100,000 people have been displaced from their homes, and the humanitarian crisis deepens daily, with dwindling access to basic supplies and medical care.
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