The Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to release ten hostages and return the bodies of 18 dead others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The group said on Saturday that the agreement follows US proposal for a temporary ceasefire, endorsed by the Israeli authorities.
Hamas had initially signalled reluctance to accept the terms of the deal because the framework did not address any of its key demands regarding a permanent ceasefire.
A senior Hamas official who spoke under cover told Associated Press that “there are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.”
A separate Hamas statement confirmed ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released “in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.”
Recall that Israeli officials had approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war, with Trump saying negotiators were nearing a deal.
according to the draft proposal, backed by both Israel and the US, negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire would begin immediately on the first day of the 60-day truce.
The terms of the agreement would also allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza “immediately” and be distributed “through agreed upon channels,” including the United Nations and the Red Crescent, according to the proposal.
But the draft agreement contained no guarantee of a permanent end to the war, a key Hamas demand, nor assurances that the ceasefire will be extended as long as negotiations continue. Instead, it said that US President Donald Trump is “committed to working to ensure that good faith negotiations continue until a final agreement is reached.
