Hamas made a similar gesture on May 12 by releasing Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, hoping the move would advance an agreement.
Hamas has announced it will release 10 Israeli captives as a gesture of flexibility during ongoing negotiations, being held in the Qatari capital Doha since Sunday, aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“In its efforts to ensure the success of ongoing negotiations, the movement has shown necessary flexibility and agreed to release ten prisoners,” Hamas announced on its Telegram channel on Wednesday evening.
Hamas noted that its leadership has continued “its intensive and responsible efforts to ensure the success of ongoing negotiations”.
The Palestinian group also highlighted the core issues that are being negotiated, including the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip, the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the besieged enclave, and the guarantee for a permanent ceasefire.
“Despite current difficulties in negotiations due to the occupation’s intransigence, we continue working earnestly and positively with mediators to overcome the obstacles, end our people’s suffering, and guarantee their aspirations for freedom, security, and dignified life,” Hamas said.
Hamas made a similar gesture on May 12 by releasing Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, hoping the move would advance an agreement. However, Israel only intensified its brutal bombardment of the Gaza Strip while continuing to block the entry of aid.
The negotiations currently taking place in Doha are centred on the latest 60-day ceasefire proposal presented by the mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the negotiations have so far narrowed down the sticking points between Hamas and Israel from four to one, expressing optimism over achieving a deal.
The key sticking point is reportedly related to the areas from which occupation forces would be withdrawing during the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Trump held two meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington this week. Trump told reporters that there was “a very good chance” an agreement would be reached.
“I think we have a chance this week or next week. Not definitely. There’s nothing definite about war and Gaza and all the other places that we deal with so much,” Trump said.
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel have stalled since Israel broke the ceasefire deal on March 18, two months after it came into effect.
Israel continued carrying out daily massacres despite the ongoing ceasefire efforts. Israel killed at least 16 Palestinians, including 10 children, early on Thursday after bombing a crowd awaiting aid in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza.
Gaza’s health ministry estimates that Israel has killed at least 61,700 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, but the actual figure remains an undercount, with thousands trapped under the rubble.
