- By Vivek Raj
- Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:53 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In ongoing negotiations to extend a truce over Gaza, a senior Hamas official, former Gaza health minister Bassem Naim, announced on Wednesday that the Islamist movement is prepared to release all Israeli soldiers currently held captive in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel, as reported by news agency AFP.
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State arrived in Tel Aviv early Thursday, making his third visit in the Middle East since the war started. He has come for talks on a truce deal and aid support to Gaza.
Naim, during a press conference in Cape Town as part of his visit to South Africa, revealed that Hamas is engaged in "hard negotiations" to extend the ceasefire, set to conclude early Thursday after a six-day pause in fighting.
"We are ready to release all soldiers in exchange for all our prisoners," said Naim at a press conference in Cape Town.
Gaza's Hamas group had captured approximately 240 Israelis as hostages from southern Israel in an unprecedented October 7 attack, resulting in around 1,200 casualties, according to Israeli officials, with a majority being civilians.
In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas, leading to a death toll of nearly 15,000 people as reported by Gaza Health Ministry.
Under the truce agreement, 60 Israeli hostages and 180 Palestinian prisoners have been released, bringing relief to their respective families. However, among the hostages still held by Hamas are soldiers excluded from the exchange agreement, likely to be used as significant bargaining chips.
Hamas previously demanded the release of all Palestinian prisoners in October, offering to release all hostages in exchange. The new proposal arises as efforts intensify to extend the halt in ceasefire, with Hamas now willing to extend the truce by another four days and release additional Israeli hostages.
"We are trying with the mediators to negotiate a permanent ceasefire," said Naim.
Meanwhile, Israel's army said it is investigating a report by Hamas's armed wing claiming that a 10-month-old baby hostage, along with his four-year-old brother and their mother, were killed in Gaza. Naim confirmed the deaths, stating, "The woman and her two children are among them, I can confirm that."
