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Join on Telegram Rabat – Israeli and Hamas officials are currently engaging in talks in Qatar, with the aim of securing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza after several failed attempts.
Hamas has expressed readiness to release 34 captives as part of an initial prisoner exchange deal, the AFP and Reuters cited an official from the group as saying. Hamas stated that the captives include women, children, elderly people, and those who are sick.
However, the official noted that time is needed to verify the captives’ conditions and confirm which individuals are alive. “We need a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify those who are alive and those who are not,” the official said.
The deal also hinges on Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza, the Reuters report added. This a term Israel has strongly rejected as it insists on maintaining a military presence in Gaza and control over the Philadelphi Corridor.
Hamas previously said they will accept nothing less than the full withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, including the route. In addition, they criticized deviation from already agreed on terms as per the Biden proposed ceasefire plan.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said they have not received specific information about the captives from Hamas. In a statement, his office said, “As yet, Israel has not received any confirmation or comment by Hamas regarding the status of the hostages appearing on the list.”
The US, under the Biden administration, is mediating the talks. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgency of reaching a deal soon.
“We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks,” Blinken said during a visit to South Korea. He expressed hope that even if the talks extend beyond Biden’s term, an agreement would be reached quickly.
Despite the talks, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued over the weekend. According to Gaza health officials, more than 100 Palestinians were killed in the latest attacks, including civilians in residential areas.
The Israeli Occupation Forces killed over 45,800 Palestinians since the genocidal war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
