Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages in Gaza

Hamas said on Wednesday it has agreed to release 10 hostages under ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, saying ongoing talks for a truce were “tough” due to Israel’s “intransigence.”

The Palestinian group said the ongoing ceasefire talks have several sticking points, including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and “genuine guarantees’ for a permanent ceasefire.”

Hamas addresses the ongoing negotiations with Israel — now in their fourth day — regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that it has shown “flexibility” and agreed to release ten hostages as part of the deal.

However, it notes that other issues are still under negotiation, including the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of IDF forces from the territory and real guarantees for a permanent ceasefire.

In its statement, Hamas says that despite the challenges in the talks, it continues to act “seriously and in a positive spirit with the mediators in order to overcome the obstacles.”

This is an unusual statement from Hamas while negotiations with Israel are still ongoing. However, it does not indicate progress in the talks.