The United States has urged that talks on the release of hostages held by Hamas continue even as fighting in the Gaza Strip intensifies, according to CNN citing two officials familiar with the matter.
According to the channel, American officials stressed that negotiations should press forward despite the escalation in Israeli operations in Gaza. The goal remains securing the release of captive civilians, with officials indicating that progress in talks had not reached a dead end and that efforts would persist.
Officials conveyed that no scenario would see negotiations halted before the hostages are freed. The stance emphasizes a continued push for a coordinated pathway to return those taken during the conflict.
In remarks attributed to Musa Abu Marzouk, a former Hamas Politburo member and head of the movement’s foreign relations office, it was stated that Hamas is prepared to release all captured civilians, but the intense bombardment currently in Gaza makes such a withdrawal unfeasible without a ceasefire from Israel.
Another Hamas spokesperson, previously quoted, suggested that the West has built an “unbreakable wall” between itself and the Arab world, underscoring the political and regional dimensions that color the hostage situation and negotiations.
As the situation unfolds, officials continue to frame the talks as a humanitarian priority, seeking a practical and verifiable pathway to deliver civilians back to safety while addressing the broader security concerns in the region. The status and specifics of any potential deal are expected to remain sensitive and closely watched by international audiences, with updates dependent on ongoing assessments from both sides and third-party mediators. In the meantime, the commitment to negotiation is presented as essential to achieving a verified release, even amid widespread fighting and political tension.
Attribution note: CNN and other sources have reported on these discussions, with details provided by unnamed officials and observers familiar with the negotiations.