Abu Ubeida, a spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed branch of the Palestinian Hamas movement, signaled readiness to release as many as 70 Israeli captives in exchange for a five‑day ceasefire.
He noted that the enemy had pressed for the release of 100 women and children held in Gaza. The group indicated to mediators that up to 50 women and children could be freed within five days of a ceasefire, with the possibility of reaching 70 in time, stressing the difficulties of locating hostages held by disparate units and services.
Last week, Hamas engaged in talks via Qatari intermediaries about freeing Israeli women and children detained by the movement. In return, the group sought the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 women imprisoned in Israel.
A representative for the Al Qassam Brigades stated that any ceasefire should include a pause in fighting and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The wider crisis escalated after thousands of Hamas fighters crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7, an action framed by Hamas as the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war.
Israel’s reaction to Operation Iron Sword aimed to repel the assault, free more than 200 hostages, including foreign nationals, and dismantle Hamas. To pursue this objective, Israel launched significant rocket strikes on the Gaza Strip from day one. Simultaneously, the Israeli National Security Council ordered the cessation of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel supplies to the enclave. Humanitarian shipments to Gaza began moving through the Rafah border crossing only after October 20 and were described as insufficient in volume.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of its ground operation in Gaza. While the exact start date of the operation remains unclear, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had already fled their homes and sought shelter in southern areas. By November 5, the army had surrounded Gaza City and cut off supplies, leaving central Gaza as a continued frontline.
Earlier remarks from Hamas framed the conflict as a consequence of a perceived barrier created by Western powers, describing it as an “unbreakable wall” between the West and the Arab world.
Analysts note that the dynamics of hostage negotiations and ceasefire discussions are deeply influenced by shifting military positions, humanitarian concerns, and regional diplomacy, with mediators often balancing reciprocal moves and public statements to reduce escalating violence.
Observers emphasize the ongoing risk to civilians in Gaza and Israel, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian corridors, reliable aid delivery, and verified hostage release conditions that can endure beyond temporary truces. [attribution: Associated Press / Independent briefings]