Hamas announced on Wednesday that it would release 10 Israeli prisoners in a goodwill gesture aimed at reviving and accelerating ongoing negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
“We showed the necessary flexibility and agreed to release 10 prisoners as part of our keenness to make the ongoing efforts a success,” the group said in a statement.
Senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou also confirmed the move in a statement to Al-Jazeera, saying, “Hamas agreed to release 10 Israeli captives in exchange for the flow of aid and a halt to the aggression.”
Despite the gesture, Hamas emphasized that several “core issues” remain under negotiation. These include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, U.S.-guaranteed enforcement of any agreed ceasefires, and the continued flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
Earlier this week, Israel rejected amendments Hamas had proposed to a ceasefire agreement. The changes requested by Hamas included assurances from the United States that any temporary truce would eventually transition into a permanent ceasefire, along with a complete Israeli military withdrawal.
Trust in the negotiation process has eroded significantly in recent months. In March, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement signed on January 17 and resumed bombing campaigns in Gaza, with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Further skepticism arose in May when Hamas released Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander. The group claimed they had done so based on assurances from U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff that President Trump would respond by lifting the then two-month-long blockade on humanitarian aid and publicly supporting a ceasefire. Neither promise was fulfilled, deepening mistrust in the negotiation process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in Washington, where he has held three meetings with President Trump since arriving on Sunday, including one on Wednesday.
Previously, Trump proposed a controversial plan that involved the removal of Gaza’s entire population—an idea briefly endorsed by the Biden administration in late 2023 before being walked back under international pressure.