Hamas ready to release up to 15 hostages in exchange for humanitarian pause

The radical Palestinian movement Hamas is discussing the possible release of up to 15 hostages in exchange for a humanitarian ceasefire that would allow the organization of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times reported, citing sources, Report informs referring to TASS.

According to its information, under the terms of the deal discussed by Hamas, Israel will suspend attacks for three days, which will allow "for humanitarian aid to be shipped into the enclave and hostages to be transported out." The newspaper emphasized that the deal includes several Americans held by the radical Palestinian movement. However, the exact number of hostages to be released remains under discussion. The talks, which involve US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns, are being mediated by Qatar.

The New York Times pointed out that US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are actively promoting a possible deal to release Hamas hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. According to the newspaper, representatives of the group offered to organize such an exchange shortly before the start of the Israeli ground operation in Gaza, but Israeli authorities "doubted Hamas sincerity" and authorized the start of the offensive.

On November 7, the Internet portal Axios reported that US President Joe Biden proposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend hostilities in the Gaza Strip for three days in order to free some of the hostages held by the radical Hamas movement. A senior Israeli official, for his part, told the US newspaper Politico that Israeli authorities are ready to suspend hostilities if Hamas releases a significant number of hostages.