HAMAS has said it will release 10 hostages amid ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire deal for war-torn Gaza.
The Islamist terror group’s statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar in a bid to bring peace for the distraught Gazans.
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Both Hamas and Israel have spoken positively about the prospects, but there are reportedly a number of crucial sticking points
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued that Hamas must be completely disarmed and expelled from Gaza.
In turn, Hamas wants guarantees that the war would not resume after any ceasefire – as happened earlier this year.
It comes just days after President Donald Trump signalled his belief that an agreement for a 60-day truce would be struck before the end of the week.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said part of the deal would be the return of 10 living hostages held by militants since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the war.
Of 251 hostages seized during the assault on Israeli border communities near Gaza, 49 are still held in the territory, including 27, the Israeli military says are dead.
In its statement, Hamas said while key hurdles remained in the peace talks, they were ready to be flexible.
A statement read: “The movement [Hamas] displayed the required flexibility and agreed to release 10 prisoners [hostages].
“Despite the difficulty of negotiations over these issues until now due to the intransigence of the occupation, we continue to work seriously and with a positive spirit with the mediators to overcome the hurdles and end the suffering of our people and ensure their aspirations to freedom, safety and a dignified life.”
Israel earlier appeared to fall in behind Trump’s optimism for an end to the conflict.
As part of the proposed truce, Israel and Hamas would hold fire for 60 days, during which time some hostages would be freed and more aid would enter Gaza.
Hamas official Taher al-Nono said they were engaged in a “difficult round” of negotiations.
But a source familiar with Hamas’ thinking said four days of talks in Doha did not produce any breakthroughs on three main sticking points.
These are the free flow of aid into Gaza, withdrawal lines for Israeli forces and guarantees that negotiations would pave the way to a permanent ceasefire
Trump met Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza.
The Israeli boss said he believed an agreement was on the horizon.
“I think we’re getting closer to a deal,” he told FOX Business Network’s Mornings with Maria programme.
“There’s a good chance that we’ll have it.”
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Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address that military action had prepared the ground for a deal that would bring home the Israeli hostages.
“We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas.
“Thanks to the operational power that we have demonstrated, the conditions have been created to advance a deal to release the hostages.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said he thought a temporary deal was “achievable” and could even herald talks for a more lasting peace, while President Isaac Herzog talked of “a historic opportunity” for change.
“We are in an era of tectonic shifts, where the global balance of power and the regional strategic landscape are being reshaped,” Herzog said.
“We must not miss this moment.”
Netanyahu is insistent that he wants to neutralise the threat to Israel from Hamas permanently.
But he is under increasing pressure at home and abroad to end the war, particularly as the death toll of soldiers killed by homemade bombs and ambushes in Gaza increases.
Hamas has vowed “Gaza will not surrender”.
The terror group had previously rebuffed pressure to release all the hostages, demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israel wants to ensure Hamas terrorists in Gaza never again threaten its security.
Qatari mediators had warned on Tuesday that it would take time to seal a deal.
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