Hamas has agreed to release 34 Israeli hostages who were captured by the militants on October 7, 2023. The agreement was reached on Sunday evening based on a list given by Israel, according to The Times of Israel.
However, Hamas has refused to reveal whether these 34 captives are still alive or not.
Hamas released a video hostage Liri Elbag. I spoke to her mother in Oct.:
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) January 4, 2025
“Liri and Naama are little girls, young girls that for one year are there, in hell. People in the world forget them. Our government, the media, and all over the world. They forget they are still there.” pic.twitter.com/8fZrS3oJDE
This comes as part of the first phase of a potential ceasefire deal. The hostages will be released in exchange for a number of Palesitinian security prisoners.
A unidentified Hamas official, quoted by AFP, said the militant group has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether they are alive or not. He said a weeklong ceasefire was required in order to ascertain who among the 34 hostages are alive or dead.
These include 23 women and elderly hostages, besides 11 men under 50 whose health conditions have deteriorated.
Earlier, reports said Hamas had refused to release 12 of the 34 hostages, claiming that men aged between 18 and 50 are deemed "soldiers".
However, Israel is unlikely to accept a ceasefire without finalising the release of hostages. On the other hand, Hamas has been demanding a permanent ceasefire with Israel troops completely withdrawing from Gaza.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the country will not agree to a permanent ceasefire, saying the war will resume when the potential truce ends.
