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| A march in Tel Aviv demands a deal to release the hostages. |
Israel Prioritizes Hostages for Potential Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Two Israeli committees are currently gathering intelligence
on the remaining hostages believed to be alive in Gaza in order to determine
who should be prioritized for release under a proposed ceasefire agreement
currently under discussion, according to media reports.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that one committee, affiliated
with the Ministry of Health, and another linked to military intelligence, will
jointly advise negotiators on which hostages should be released first if a
truce deal is successfully reached.
Current Israeli estimates suggest that around 50 hostages
remain in Gaza, with approximately 20 believed to be alive.
Hostage Release Phases under the Proposed Truce
The proposed framework reportedly outlines a phased release
schedule:
- Day
1: 8 hostages would be released alive.
- Day
50: An additional 2 live hostages would be freed.
- Day
60: The remaining 10 hostages would be released following a final
agreement to end the war permanently.
During the last hostage deal, which was disrupted by the
Israeli military's resumption of operations on March 18, Israel had submitted a
list to Hamas specifying the hostages it prioritized for release.
Hamas Responds Positively to Ceasefire Proposal
On Friday evening, Hamas confirmed that it had completed
internal consultations with various Palestinian factions regarding the latest
ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators.
In an official statement, the movement announced it had
delivered its response to the mediators, characterizing it as “positive.”
Hamas also emphasized its full readiness to immediately
enter a new round of negotiations focused on implementing the proposed
framework in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people and
brings an end to the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Israel Analyzing Hamas’ Response
While no official statement has been released, Israeli
sources disclosed late Friday that the government had received Hamas’ reply and
was “reviewing its details.”
Channel 13 reported that Israeli officials are expected to
thoroughly analyze Hamas' demands before forming a final position.
The report also indicated that Israel is likely to dispatch a delegation to the mediators following this assessment.
