A senior Hamas official announced on Wednesday that the Islamist movement is prepared to release all Israeli soldiers it holds captive in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The statement comes amid ongoing negotiations to extend a truce over Gaza.
Former Gaza health minister Bassem Naim, the Hamas official, revealed that the group is engaged in challenging negotiations to extend the cessation of hostilities set to conclude early Thursday after a six-day pause in fighting. Hamas proposes an exchange of all soldiers for all Palestinian prisoners. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas in response to Gaza militants taking approximately 240 captives from southern Israel in an October 7 attack.
The truce has seen the release of 60 Israeli hostages and 180 Palestinian prisoners. However, the proposal indicates that hostages excluded from the exchange agreement may serve as a bargaining chip for Hamas. Activist groups report over 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, and efforts intensify to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and extend the truce
