Israel demands of release of 34 hostages in the first phase of ceasefire deal: Report

As Israel and Hamas continues to hold talks for a ceasefire-hostage deal, reports are emerging that Tel Aviv presented the Palestinian militant group with a list of 34 hostages, demanding for their release in the first phase of the deal. The list also includes 11 names that do not meet Hamas’s criteria for a deal, Al-Ghad reported.

A source close to the matter told the Egyptian news outlet that some of the names in Israel’s list include hostages that Hamas considers to be soldiers. From the start of the negotiation talks, Hamas has maintained that it will only release the sick, the elderly, and children.

The source mentioned that the first phase of the deal would include the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. Apart from this, the two parties are also discussing key sticking points in the ongoing conflict, such as the Rafah crossing, the withdrawal of the IDF from the Netzarim axis, and the return of displaced Gazans to the north of the Strip.

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While Hamas expressed optimism for reaching closer to a ceasefire deal, Israeli officials has denied that any of its delegations are in Egypt to take part in the negotiations. “There is no Israeli delegation on the way to Cairo, nor is one planned.” As per the report, Hamas and Israel are also debating of Israel Defence Forces’ (IDF) gradual withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor.

Contradictory to what Tel Aviv is saying, Al Ghad reported that an Israeli delegation had arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the deal and have meet with several Egyptian officers who are like the mediators. From Egypt’s side, discussions will reportedly focused on the management of the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi and Netzarim axes.

On Saturday, Hamas said in a statement that “The possibility of reaching a deal is closer than ever if Israel stops imposing new conditions."

The statement came following a Friday meeting between a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, head of the negotiating team for a hostage deal and ceasefire, and representatives of the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), The Jerusalem Post reported.

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On Saturday, a Palestinian official told the BBC that talks to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas are 90 per cent complete. The remaining 10 per cent allegedly include the Philadelphi corridor and the possibility of a buffer zone between Israel and Gaza.

With inputs from agencies.