Palestinian terror group Hamas confirms progress has been made toward a hostage release deal and ceasefire.
“We renew our commitment to our loyal and patient people and to our heroic prisoners in prisons, and we affirm that their freedom is near,” the terrorist group said.
This statement comes after apparent progress during the talks which took place in Doha last night.
A Qatari official said Israel and Hamas had both received a “final” version of the proposal, although an Israeli official later denied the claim.
A potential deal is expected to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of terrorism, to secure the freedom of innocent hostages held in the Gaza Strip, mainly civilians.
An estimated 94 of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 people whose deaths were confirmed by the Israeli military.
Hamas freed 105 civilians during a week-long truce in late November, and four hostages were freed before that. Eight hostages were rescued by live troops, and the bodies of 40 hostages were also found, three of whom were mistakenly killed by the Israeli army while trying to escape their captors.
Hamas also holds two Israeli civilians who entered the strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two Israeli army soldiers killed in 2014.
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