Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories – In a significant development amidst the ongoing conflict, a Hamas official announced on January 5 that the group is ready to release 34 hostages in the “first phase” of a potential deal with Israel. This revelation comes after Israel confirmed that indirect talks on a truce and hostage release agreement had resumed in Qatar.
For months, mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been striving to negotiate a deal to end the war. The latest effort is particularly crucial as it comes just days before Donald Trump takes office as President of the United States on January 20.
The talks occurred against a backdrop of intense violence, with Israel launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on January 5, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 people according to rescuers. This conflict, which has lasted nearly 15 months, has seen only one truce—a one-week pause in November 2023 that led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinians from Israeli jails.
The Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the initial swap would include women, children, elderly people, and sick captives still held in Gaza. However, Hamas needs time to determine the condition of these hostages. “Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead,” the official said.
The Israeli military reported that 96 of the 251 hostages seized by militants in October 2023 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead.
Efforts to resume negotiations over the weekend in Qatar are underway, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasizing the importance of freeing the hostages.
The violence continues to escalate, with the Civil Defence agency reporting an airstrike on a house in the Sheikh Radwan area, killing at least 11 people. The Israeli military has targeted over 100 “terror targets” in Gaza over the past two days.
As the conflict rages on, both Hamas and Israel face accusations of imposing new conditions and obstacles to the peace talks. The situation remains volatile, with a high death toll on both sides and ongoing efforts to find a resolution.