Hamas says it’s ready to free 34 captives under ceasefire deal
Desk Report || risingbd.com
Hamas has said it is ready to release 34 captives as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, the Reuters and AFP news agencies have reported, citing an official with the Palestinian group, reports al Jazeera.
The Palestinian group, which governs the Gaza Strip, has approved the release of the captives “as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal”, the AFP reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Hamas official.
The initial swap would include all women, children, elderly people and sick captives being held in Gaza, the AFP reported the official as saying.
Reuters cited an unnamed Hamas official as saying a ceasefire deal would depend on Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and its withdrawal from Gaza.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Hamas had yet to provide a list of captives for potential release.
The reports come as negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement are under way in Qatar.
The administration of United States President Joe Biden, which is mediating the talks, is hoping for a last-minute breakthrough in the talks before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20._Agencies.
Dhaka/Nasim