Hamas says it is ready to release 34 prisoners under the ceasefire agreement News of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli and Hamas officials are holding talks in Qatar in a new effort to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Hamas said it was ready to release 34 prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, Reuters and Agence France-Presse news agencies reported, citing an official in the Palestinian movement.

Agence France-Presse reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Hamas official, that the Palestinian movement that rules the Gaza Strip agreed to release the prisoners “as part of the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal.”

Agence France-Presse quoted the official as saying that the initial exchange would include all women, children, the elderly and sick prisoners detained in Gaza.

Reuters quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying that the ceasefire agreement would depend on Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and its withdrawal from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday that Hamas had not yet provided a list of prisoners likely to be released.

These reports come at a time when negotiations are underway to reach a ceasefire agreement in Qatar.

The administration of US President Joe Biden, which is mediating the talks, hopes to achieve a last-minute breakthrough in the talks before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.

Ali Hashem, Al Jazeera’s correspondent from the Qatari capital, Doha, said that there are still major differences that must be bridged between the two sides.

He added: “In the end, there is a need for a political decision.” This decision is now in the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Hamas has thrown the ball in the Israeli court. “It is up to Israel whether it will move this to the second stage or not,” Hashem said.

Hashem said that the negotiations are also taking place in the context of Trump’s warnings about the consequences of not reaching an agreement.

Trump warned just a few weeks ago that if there was no ceasefire when he took office, all hell would break loose. So who’s warning? Is it Netanyahu? Unlikely. agitation? “Very likely,” Hashim said.

“How will Hamas deal with this matter? Will they give up what they were seeking? Especially the issue of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the permanent ceasefire. Because now, as Hamas releases the prisoners it holds, there is no guarantee that this war will end. That is why Hamas wants a clear commitment from Israel.”

Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza on Sunday, with its military claiming to have struck more than 100 “terrorist targets” in the Strip over the weekend.

Gaza health officials said Israeli raids killed more than 100 Palestinians, including five people in a house in the Nuseirat camp and five at a police station in Khan Yunis.

More than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war on Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on the country.