Hamas to Release 34 Hostages in First Phase of Agreement with Israel

The Palestinian group Hamas has consented to release 34 hostages as part of an initial phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, according to reports from Asharq TV. This arrangement follows the delivery of a list by Israeli authorities, which Hamas has agreed to, indicating that the hostages include women, children, and individuals in vulnerable health conditions.

Sources suggest that Hamas requires approximately one week to verify the status of the hostages, ensuring that they are alive. It is important to note that the list of hostages was not generated by Hamas itself; rather, it was provided by Israel last summer, as emphasized by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On January 5, a Hamas representative disclosed that the group had approved a list of 24 hostages they were prepared to release. However, an advisor to the Israeli prime minister later stated that no such list had been submitted by Hamas during discussions.

The backdrop to this agreement includes a humanitarian truce brokered by Qatar and Egypt at the end of November 2023, during which Israel successfully secured the release of 110 hostages. However, this truce was short-lived; on December 1, the Israel Defense Forces accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire, leading to a resumption of hostilities in the Gaza Strip that remain ongoing.

Efforts to negotiate an enduring resolution have continued into 2024, with multiple rounds of talks facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Despite these efforts, a comprehensive agreement has not yet been reached.

On January 2, the Israeli government announced plans for a delegation to visit Qatar to restart negotiations. The most recent discussions took place in Doha at the end of 2024, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic engagement in the region.