Hamas has tentatively agreed to a Qatari-brokered deal to release at least 50 civilian hostages, mostly women and children, if Israel agrees to certain conditions including a temporary ceasefire, officials familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday.
Israel is considering the proposal, which would include a three- to five-day fighting freeze, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and the release of Palestinian women and children being held in Israeli prisons, the Washington Post reported.
However, the hostage deal is fragile and could fall apart like others before it, an Arab diplomat told the outlet.
“We should be hearing back today,” they said Wednesday, noting that if Israel signs off, “It’s going to happen quickly. If they reject it, then we’re at it again.”
On Monday, Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said a five-day cease-fire would get them to hand over as many as 70 women and children.
A detailed list of those being held captive would be another tenet of the deal, but that’s difficult to compile because the Israeli bombardment has cut off much of the communications within Gaza, Reuters reported.
Hamas has agreed to the deal in principle, the Washington Post source said, while Israel is said to be mulling the proposal over. Qatar has been the go-between in negotiations between the two warring parties, with the U.S. playing a role as well.
“We have been working relentlessly for the release of the hostages, including using increased pressure since the start of the ground incursion,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
Israel declared war on Hamas after the militant group overran the border from Gaza into southern Israel on Oct. 7, massacring about 1,200 people and snatching at least 240 hostages, including babies and the elderly. Since then, Israel has bombarded the territory with airstrikes, killing more than 11,000 people, according to Gaza health officials. About 40% of them are said to have been children.
Israel launched a ground invasion later in October, and on Wednesday troops were searching for Hamas installations after raiding Gaza’s largest hospital.
With News Wire Services
