Hamas potentially interested in a hostage deal, says senior Israeli official

A senior Israeli defence official said that for the first time in a long time, there is a good chance to reach a hostage deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid the ongoing war in Gaza. However, the deal does not include an official end to the war in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Hamas has been under a lot of pressure, however, has refused to surrender, the official said.

The official added that the group is potentially interested in a hostage deal.

The potential deal will include a first-stage 42-day ceasefire, in which a number of hostages will be released.

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Last week, a senior Hamas official said that the Palestinian militant group was “ready for a ceasefire” in besieged Gaza.

Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told news agency AFP that he wanted United States President-elect Donald Trump to press Israel to “end the aggression”.

“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected” by Israel, said the Hamas official. “We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he added.

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On Wednesday (Nov 20), during an interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Hamas’ acting Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said that there would be no hostages-for-prisoners swap deal with Israel unless the war ends.

"Without an end to the war, there can be no prisoner swap," Hayya said during the interview.

"If the aggression is not ended, why would the resistance and in particular Hamas, return the prisoners (hostages)?" he said. "How would a sane or an insane person lose a strong card he owns while the war is continuing?"

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(With inputs from agencies)