Qatar is attempting to broker a deal by which Hamas would release between 10-15 of the approximately 240 Israel hostages it has held in Gaza for the last month in exchange for a pause of one to two days of the current fighting in Gaza, AFP reported.
A source familiar with the talks told AFP that “N]negotiations mediated by the Qataris in coordination with the US are ongoing to secure the release of 10-15 hostages in exchange for a one- to two-day ceasefire."
Hamas took hundreds of people hostage, mostly civilians, during its unprovoked attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which the terrorist organization massacred over 1,400 people, again, mostly civilians. The hostages include the elderly, women, and children as young as 10 months.
Hamas has let four hostages go in the weeks since the massacre, all of whom are women. The first two hostages let go were American citizens, while the second pair were elderly Israeli women.
IDF forces have rescued one hostage, IDF soldier Ori Megidish, during military operations in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas massacre.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been adamant that there will be no ceasefire until the hostages are returned. Tens of thousands of anti-Israel activists have demonstrated around the world demanding Israel cease its retaliation against Hamas in a manner that would leave the terrorist organization in power in Gaza and allow it to keep its hundreds of hostages.