Israel and Hamas are reportedly negotiating a deal to release dozens of people held by Hamas in exchange for a three-day ceasefire, according to the Reuters news agency and Axios, a digital publication based in the USA. Qatari mediators are seeking to broker a deal that could also result in the release of some Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.
Here are the details:
What do the reports say?
The deal is still being discussed in coordination with the United States – a close ally of Israel – some of whose citizens are among the captives.
Part of the deal includes the release of around 50 civilian prisoners in Gaza, a rapid jump from previous reports which suggested Hamas would release 10 to 15 prisoners. Hamas is also expected to release the full list of living civilian hostages held in Gaza, according to an official briefed on the negotiations.
Israel would also release some Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons. However, it is not yet clear how many of them will be released. Israel would also increase the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza, the official said.
Qatar, where Hamas operates a political office, has a direct line of communication with Israel and Hamas and has previously worked to broker truces between the two. Qatari mediation efforts have so far led to the release of four of the 240 hostages who Israeli authorities say were captured by Hamas on October 7.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the deal.
US President Joe Biden said he had “a slight hope” that an agreement would be reached on Wednesday to free Hamas prisoners.
What did Israel say?
There was no immediate response from Israeli officials, who have previously declined to provide detailed comments on negotiations to free the captives.
But the official involved in the negotiations said Israel had not agreed to the terms of the deal and was still negotiating the details.
Meanwhile, Israel continued to bombard Gaza and its forces attacked al-Shifa Hospital – the largest medical facility in the enclave. The Israeli military assault has so far killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, around 40 percent of them children, with more buried under rubble.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that “we are working tirelessly for the release of the hostages, including by exerting increased pressure since the start of the ground incursion.”
He is under pressure from the prisoners’ families, who have urged the government to negotiate their release.
What did Hamas say?
Izzat El Rashq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, did not directly confirm the deal under discussion when asked by Reuters. There was no immediate comment from the Hamas political office in Doha.
Thai Muslim politicians said Thursday they had received assurances from Hamas that all detained Thai hostages would be among those released if mediators succeeded in brokering a truce in Gaza.
Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said on Monday it had told Qatari negotiators it was prepared to release up to 70 women and children in exchange for a five-day truce, according to Reuters.
How many captives have been released so far?
Four captives have been released so far after diplomatic negotiations mediated by countries including Qatar and Egypt.
On October 20, Hamas released the first captives – American citizens Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17 – claiming it was for “humanitarian reasons.”
On October 23, two Israeli women – Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85 – were also released.
According to the Israeli army, a fifth person, a soldier, Private Ori Megidish, was rescued on October 30 during a ground raid inside Gaza.
Citizens of Russia, the United States, France, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Germany, Argentina and the Netherlands are believed to be among the Hamas captives. Thailand is in talks with Iran and other governments to secure the release of 23 of its citizens detained in Gaza.
