Tough Armistice Negotiations, Israel And Hamas Have Not Agreed On A List Of Hostages To Be Released

Israeli Military in Gaza Strip, Palestine (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Israel have not agreed on the names and numbers of hostages to be released, as ceasefire negotiations to end the conflict continue.

A Hamas official said the group had approved a list of 34 Israeli hostages to be returned as part of the deal.

Hamas officials provided a copy of a list showing the names of 34 hostages approved to be released in any possible ceasefire agreement with Israel to Reuters on Sunday.

However, Israel denies Hamas has approved a list of 34 hostages he will release in the first phase of the deal to release hostages.

"Until now, Hamas has not provided a list of hostages," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, quoted by The Times of Israel.

According to Channel 12, Hamas submitted a list, but did not mention who is still alive and who is not.

Hamas' ceasefire with Israel continues to be pursued in Doha with US, Qatar and Egyptian mediators, before the inauguration of United States President-elect Joe Biden on January 20.

Last week, Israeli negotiators were sent on Friday to resume talks in Doha. On the same day, Hamas said it was committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible, but it was unclear how close both sides were.

A Hamas official said any deal to return Israeli hostages would rely on an agreement for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire or end the war.

"However, until now, the occupation remains adamant on the deal on the matter of the ceasefire and troop withdrawals, and has yet to make any further steps," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, an Israeli official assessed that the main obstacle in the negotiations was the number and names of hostages to be released in the first round, from the planned two-stage ceasefire.

Israel, the official said, was unsure about the second turn, thus trying to maximize the number of hostages released in the first round.

"We hope this will bring momentum to another deal," the official said, adding Hamas "will not release everyone. They are not interested in doing that. Unless Israel says this is the end of the war, and Israel will not say it."