“Israelis’ only wish for 2025 should be an end to the war” in the Gaza Strip “and the return of the hostages” detained by Hamas and its allies in the Palestinian enclave since the bloody attacks of October 7, 2023, wrote the Israeli daily Ha’Aretz on December 31.
After months of fruitless discussions punctuated by hope and disillusionment, will Israel and the Palestinian movement finally reach an agreement on the release of the 96 captives – more than a third of whom have lost their lives – still detained in Gaza?
What is certain is that new indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian movement resumed on the weekend of January 4 and 5 in Doha, Qatar, which, along with the United States and Egypt, serves as of mediator.
A list of 34 names
According to several consistent sources, the talks revolve around the release of 34 hostages – including the pan-Arab Saudi channel Al-Sharq and the BBC British, in particular, published the list – which Hamas would be willing to release during the “first phase of a prisoner exchange agreement”, as part of a possible agreement.
This list includes “soldiers, civilians and minors”, explain Al-Sharq. More precisely, “11 h
