Media: Hamas claims advancements in talks with Israel for ceasefire in Gaza, hostage release

Representatives of the Palestinian organization Hamas and the Israeli side have made certain progress in negotiations aimed at establishing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and securing the release of Israeli citizens held hostage, according to an unnamed senior Hamas official.

The source stated that "unprecedented progress" had been made in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and the release of hostages, adding that the final decision should be made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli news portal Ynet.

The Hamas representative also mentioned that disagreements remain regarding the number of hostages to be released under the deal. The parties have also failed to reach an agreement on which hostages will be freed.

The source further noted that Hamas has been asked not to disclose any information about the negotiations. Earlier, Netanyahu stated that "the fewer talks there are about the deal, the better," according to the portal.

To note, Negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have recently advanced to a crucial phase, with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States involved in discussions. These talks are now focusing on a prisoner exchange agreement, with Hamas providing lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged. A temporary ceasefire is under consideration, with a transitional period of up to 60 days where humanitarian aid would be provided to Gaza, including food, medicine, and fuel​

Key points of the ongoing negotiations include Hamas’s demands for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the right of displaced Palestinians to return home, and a permanent ceasefire​. However, Israel has insisted on maintaining a long-term military presence, particularly in strategic areas such as the Philadelphi Corridor​. Despite these challenges, there is cautious optimism about reaching an agreement, with the process now in a more structured phase of discussions involving technical committees​

By Khagan Isayev