Israel on Monday (Jan 6) said that the Palestinian militant group Hamas has so far not shared the details of the 34 hostages it said it would release in a potential swap deal's first phase.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying it had not yet received any confirmation or comment by the group regarding the status of the hostages whose names were mentioned in the list released by Hamas.
"As yet, Israel has not received any confirmation or comment by Hamas regarding the status of the hostages appearing on the list," Netanyahu's office said in a statement after a Hamas official gave a list of 34 hostages the group was ready to free in the first phase.
Hamas says ready to release 34 Israeli hostages
This comes after a Hamas official, on Sunday (Jan 5), said that the Palestinian militant group was ready to release 34 hostages in the “first phase” of a potential prisoner exchange deal with Israel.
The Hamas official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the first phase of the agreement would involve the release of women, children, the elderly and the sick from among the hostages.
“Hamas has agreed to release 34 Israeli prisoners from a list presented by Israel as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal.”
However, the group stated it would require a week of calm to determine the condition of the captives, “alive or dead”.
“Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead,” said the official.
“However, the group needs a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify those who are alive and those who are dead.”
The statement follows Israel's confirmation that indirect talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have resumed in Doha to negotiate a truce and hostage release.
(With inputs from agencies)