The Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced Wednesday evening that it has agreed to release 10 Israeli hostages as a gesture of flexibility to help advance ongoing ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Hamas said it “continues its intensive and responsible efforts to ensure the success of the ongoing round of negotiations, striving to reach a comprehensive agreement that ends the aggression against our people, secures the free and safe entry of humanitarian aid, and alleviates the worsening suffering in the Gaza Strip.”
The group said the release of 10 hostages reflects its commitment to achieving a breakthrough in talks. However, it noted that key issues remain unresolved, including the flow of aid, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and binding guarantees for a lasting ceasefire.
The Israeli government has not yet responded publicly to Hamas’s statement.
Earlier, Israel’s public broadcaster, citing an unnamed source close to the negotiations, reported that Israel had shown “significant flexibility” in recent hours, particularly on the issue of withdrawing from the Morag axis in southern Gaza.
US President Donald Trump said his administration is “getting very close to a deal” on a Gaza ceasefire. His comments follow a second meeting within 24 hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday evening, during which the two leaders discussed the proposed ceasefire and a potential prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot urged Netanyahu to “abandon his stubbornness” and finalize a deal that would return hostages and establish a permanent ceasefire.
Delegations from both Hamas and Israel are continuing negotiations in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The ongoing war has claimed over 57,000 Palestinian lives since it began in October 2023.