Hamas says ready to release 34 captives in ceasefire deal with Israel

Hamas says it requires time to assess the condition of the captives as Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza.

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Hamas has announced its readiness to release 34 captives as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, as reported by Reuters and AFP.

The release will occur in the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal, which will include women, children, elderly individuals, and those in poor health.

However, Hamas has stated it requires time to assess the condition of the captives.

A Hamas official said, “Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead. However, the group needs a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify those who are alive and those who are dead.”

The negotiations between Israeli and Hamas officials are taking place in Qatar, with the ultimate goal of reaching a ceasefire agreement.

A Hamas official noted that a ceasefire deal would depend on Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza.

In response, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Hamas has yet to provide a list of the captives for potential release.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is mediating the talks, expressed hope for a breakthrough before the end of President Joe Biden’s administration. “We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time we have remaining,” Blinken said during a press conference in South Korea.

However, he also acknowledged the possibility of delays, adding, “If we don’t get it across the finish line in the next two weeks, I’m confident that it will get its completion at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later.”

Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem, reporting from Doha, noted that the decision now lies with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. “In the end, there is a need for a political decision. And this decision right now is with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Hamas has thrown the ball into the Israeli court. And it’s up to Israel whether to take this to the second stage or not,” Hashem said.

He also highlighted the pressure on both sides, referring to former President Donald Trump’s warnings about the consequences of not reaching a deal before he takes office: “Trump warned just a few weeks ago that if there is no ceasefire when he takes office, then hell is going to be unleashed. So, who is he warning? Is it Netanyahu? Unlikely. Hamas? Very likely,” Hashem added.

Meanwhile, Gaza health officials reported that Israeli airstrikes have killed over 100 Palestinians, including five people at a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp and five others at a police station in Khan Younis.

Israel has killed over 45,800 Palestinian since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on the country.