The announcement comes as ongoing negotiations in Doha aim to finalize the second stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement; the initial phase concluded two weeks prior.
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Hamas has agreed to release one American-Israeli hostage and the deceased bodies of four dual-national hostages as part of a proposal from mediators.
Further details such as the release timeline for the hostage, Edan Alexander, and the hostages’ bodies remain unspecified by Hamas, and other parties have not yet verified this statement.
Negotiations in Doha are still underway with the goal of securing the second stage of the Israel-Hamas truce, following the conclusion of the first phase two weeks earlier.
In a separate statement, Hamas representative Husam Badran confirmed the group’s commitment to the ceasefire in all stages, while warning that any Israeli breach of the terms could reset the talks.
Israel is pushing Hamas to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire longer, while Hamas is prioritizing discussions on the more challenging second phase, which involves the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
Hamas’ Attack on Israel
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,100 deaths and approximately 250 individuals being taken hostage to Gaza.
The ensuing Israeli military response has severely destroyed much of the Gaza Strip. The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reports over 48,000 Palestinian fatalities, without distinction between combatants and civilians.
The United Nations reports that around 69% of all structures in Gaza have been destroyed, including at least 245,000 homes.
Following prolonged and stalled negotiations with mediation from the US, Egypt, and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached a three-phase ceasefire agreement on January 19, with the first six-week stage already underway.
The first phase saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages, along with five Thai nationals not included in the agreement. In response, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinians from prisons across Israel.
Negotiations for the second phase, which was also planned to last six weeks, commenced two weeks into the first phase but remains at a standstill.
