Hamas says ready to release 34 hostages in first phase of deal with Israel

A senior Hamas official announced on Sunday January 5 that the Palestinian movement was willing to release 34 Israeli hostages in a first phase of an agreement with Israel.

In a statement sent to AFP, a Hamas official said the Islamist movement had agreed to release 34 Israeli hostages from a list presented by Israel. This release would take place during the “first phase” of a prisoner exchange agreement currently being negotiated in Qatar.

« Hamas and resistance groups need about a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify the (hostages) dead or alive “, he clarified.

On the Israeli side, Hamas’ claims have been disputed. In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “contrary to what has been reported, Hamas has still not provided a list of hostages.” The divergence reflects tensions and a lack of trust between the two sides, making prospects for an immediate deal uncertain as the hostages’ families put pressure on the Netanyau government.

Despite these differences, this announcement marks a potential breakthrough in talks on the release of the hostages. Both parties have an interest in finding an agreement before Donald Trump comes to power in the United States.