Hamas reportedly offers to release hostages in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
Hamas members secure an area before handing over an Israeli-America hostage to a Red Cross team in Gaza City on February 1, 2025 (AFP Photo)
Hamas has reportedly proposed releasing all remaining Israeli hostages in a single exchange for Palestinian prisoners, contingent on Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cease-fire.
The proposal, announced by Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim, comes as negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas amid a temporary ceasefire set to expire in early March.
The deal would mark the second phase of the truce, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
“We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase,” said Taher al-Nunu.
Nunu did not clarify how many hostages were currently held by Hamas or other militant groups.
Hamas insists on Israeli withdrawal and cease-fire
Hamas maintains that any future arrangements regarding Gaza must be determined through a national consensus and rejects Israeli efforts to disarm or remove its governance from the territory.
“Israel’s objective to expel Hamas from Gaza is nothing more than psychological warfare,” Qasim said on Telegram. “We will not be forced out, nor will we surrender our weapons.”
On Monday, Qasim suggested that Hamas is open to relinquishing administrative control of Gaza if doing so aligns with the interests of its residents.
Israel yet to respond to Hamas’ proposal
Israeli officials have not formally responded to Hamas’ latest offer. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that one of Israel’s primary war objectives is the total eradication of Hamas’ political and military influence in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that discussions on extending the six-week truce and securing the remaining hostages’ release will begin in the coming days.
Hostage release and prisoner exchange
As part of the ongoing cease-fire, Hamas has agreed to release six hostages on Saturday, accelerating the original timeline that planned their release over two weeks.
Qasim stated that this decision was made in response to requests from mediators.
Currently, an estimated 73 hostages, including Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as foreign nationals from Thailand and Nepal, remain in Gaza.
Hamas originally captured 251 hostages during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left approximately 1,200 people dead.
Israel-Hamas truce framework
The cease-fire, first agreed upon in January, resulted from months of negotiations. Under the initial agreement:
- The first phase involved Israel releasing 1,135 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages.
- The second phase, currently under negotiation, aims for the release of the remaining hostages and further prisoner exchanges.
- A third phase, if implemented, would focus on Gaza’s reconstruction with international assistance.
The truce has provided temporary relief in Gaza, where Israeli military operations since the Oct.7 attack have caused widespread devastation. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 47,460 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
