Hamas Ready To Free 34 Hostages In ‘First Phase’ As Israel Resumes Talks Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict

Amid escalating hostilities in the Gaza Strip, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Qatar, facilitated by mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. 

A senior Hamas official revealed on Sunday that the group is prepared to release 34 hostages in the "first phase" of a potential prisoner exchange deal, news agency AFP reported.

The Israeli government, while confirming the resumption of talks after months of pause, indicated that Hamas has yet to provide a definitive list of hostages eligible for release.

The proposed exchange reportedly includes women, children, elderly individuals, and sick captives still held in Gaza.

According to the Hamas representative, additional time is required to ascertain the conditions of the hostages, including determining whether some are alive or deceased.

The conflict, which erupted on 7 October 2023, after a Hamas-led attack resulted in 251 Israeli hostages, has been ongoing for nearly 15 months.

Israel’s military reports that 96 hostages remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed deceased.

Earlier negotiations yielded a one-week truce in November 2023, during which 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian detainees were exchanged.

Despite diplomatic efforts, violence in Gaza has intensified.

On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes targeted over 100 sites described as "terror targets," resulting in at least 88 fatalities over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry.

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