The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has reportedly approved a list of 34 captives it is willing to exchange with ‘Israel’ as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations. However, the two sides remain at odds over the terms of a broader truce.

According to a Hamas official who spoke to Reuters on Sunday, the list of prisoners was handed over to Israeli intermediaries on Sunday. The official emphasized that any final agreement would be contingent on Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.

“There has been no progress from ‘Israel’ on the matters of withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent ceasefire,” the Hamas official stated.

But the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputed Hamas’ statement, claiming that the group has not provided any names for a proposed prisoner swap. “Up to this moment, Hamas has not delivered a list of hostage names,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

These  reports come as intensified Israeli airstrikes over the weekend killed over 100 Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the return of Israeli captives are ongoing in Doha, with Qatari and Egyptian mediators playing a key role. The Biden administration has also urged Hamas to finalize an agreement before the US presidential transition on January 20.

Source: Agencies (edited and translated by Al-Manar English Website)