Hamas said Wednesday it would release 10 hostages as part of ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Gaza, following four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and renewed international pressure to end Israel’s months-long military campaign in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The group’s announcement came as the United States expressed optimism that a 60-day truce could be finalized by the end of the week. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the deal would include the release of 10 living hostages abducted during Oct. 7, 2023, incursion in southern Israel, which triggered the current war.
Of the 251 people taken hostage during the incursion, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
In its statement, Hamas said it had shown "the required flexibility" in agreeing to release 10 captives but stressed that key issues remain unresolved — particularly Israel’s refusal to allow full humanitarian aid access, its ongoing military presence in Gaza, and the lack of international guarantees for a lasting peace.
“Despite the difficulty of negotiations over these issues until now due to the intransigence of the occupation, we continue to work seriously and with a positive spirit with the mediators to overcome the hurdles and end the suffering of our people,” the group said.
