Gaza: Hamas says it is ready to release hostages during the “first phase” of an agreement

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

Hibapress / Radio-Canada

Hamas affirmed on Sunday that it is ready to release 34 Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza during the “first phase” of an agreement with Israel, which for its part emphasizes that it has still not received a list from of the Palestinian movement.

A Hamas official told theAFP that the Islamist group had agreed to release 34 Israeli prisoners from a listand this, during the first phase of a prisoner exchange agreement.

This list, he clarified, includes all women, the sick, children and the elderly among the Israeli hostages.

Hamas and resistance groups need about a week of calm to communicate with the captors and to identify dead or alive (hostages)added this official, who requested anonymity.

For its part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated in a press release that contrary to what was announced, Hamas has still not provided a list of hostages.

Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel resumed this weekend in Qatar with a view to a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages held captive in Gaza since the attack by the Palestinian movement on Israeli soil, on October 7, 2023.