Hamas announced on Friday that it is prepared to release an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four other dual-national hostages. This decision comes as indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Doha.
The hostages in question include Edan Alexander, a soldier with both American and Israeli citizenship, as well as the bodies of four other dual nationals who died while in captivity. However, the specific timing of the releases has not yet been confirmed by Hamas or other parties involved in the agreement.
This development marks a key point in the ongoing negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire. The first phase of the ceasefire ended two weeks ago, and discussions are now focused on the next phase. Hamas has expressed its commitment to fully implementing the ceasefire, while also emphasizing that any Israeli deviation from the terms would jeopardize the progress made.
Israel, on the other hand, is urging Hamas to extend the initial ceasefire phase, while Hamas is pushing for talks on the more challenging second phase. This phase would involve the release of remaining hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a push towards long-term peace.
