Hamas says it agrees to release 10 captives in Gaza
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu says the group is prepared to free 10 abductees to ensure the unhindered flow of desperately needed aid into Gaza and stop Israeli attacks.
Al-Nunu said the group agreed to the latest truce proposal and “offered the necessary flexibility to protect our people, stop the crime of genocide, and allow the free and dignified entry and flow of aid to our people until we reach a complete end to the war”.
Negotiations are under way on two key issues: the unfettered entry of aid and “mechanisms” aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians, he added.
Israeli troop withdrawal lines in the first phase of a ceasefire should be drawn up in a way that does not affect Palestinian lives and “paves the way for the second phase of negotiations”.
Issues on Israeli troop withdrawal, aid flow, US guarantees: Hamas
Hamas says it is continuing intensive efforts to ensure “success” in the latest round of ceasefire negotiations to end “the aggression against our people”.
“As part of its commitment to the success of the ongoing efforts, the movement has demonstrated the necessary flexibility and agreed to the release of 10 prisoners,” Hamas said in a statement.
“The core issues remain under negotiation, most notably: the flow of aid, the withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the provision of genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire,” it added.
The Palestinian group said that despite the difficulty in negotiations because of Israel’s “intransigence”, Hamas continues to work “diligently and in a positive spirit with the mediators”.
