A woman walks past posters showing the faces of hostages taken during the tragic October 7 attack by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, on August 21, 2024. Reuters
Hamas has reportedly agreed to an Israeli list of 34 hostages for a potential exchange, according to a Hamas official. However, the Israeli government has denied receiving such a list and cast doubt on the information, claiming that Hamas has yet to provide any list of hostages.
The reported hostages' release is tied to discussions around a ceasefire agreement, with both sides negotiating terms, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. It remains unclear which hostages are on the list, or whether they are alive or deceased, as Israeli officials have not yet confirmed the details.
Indirect negotiations resumed recently in Doha, with both Israeli and Hamas representatives discussing the possibility of a ceasefire in exchange for hostages. However, these talks have shown limited progress. U.S. and Israeli officials are actively involved in the discussions, with figures such as Brett McGurk, the White House Middle East advisor, present in Doha. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, is also planning a trip to Washington for further meetings.
This development comes after Hamas released a video featuring 19-year-old hostage Liri Albag, which intensified pressure on Israel. Albag’s family urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action for a ceasefire deal, expressing their distress over the footage.
As of early December, Hamas was holding about 100 hostages, many of whom were taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks, where over 1,200 Israelis were killed. Despite hopes for a prisoner exchange, it’s reported that at least 36 hostages are believed to have died while in captivity.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues in Gaza, with Israel conducting airstrikes that have resulted in further casualties. In one strike on Sunday, a residential building in northern Gaza was targeted, killing 12 members of a family. Four airstrikes hit the home of the Zuhd family in Sheikh Radwan, located north of Gaza City. There are fears that the Sheikh Radwan area is becoming a high-risk zone due to the continuous bombardment.
The ongoing conflict has overwhelmed Gaza’s medical facilities, with hospitals struggling to treat the high number of casualties. Dr. Fadel Naim, the director of Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, warned that if the attacks continue, the hospital may soon be unable to handle the growing number of victims. As of Sunday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 88 more people had died in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to at least 45,805 since the war began in October 2023.
