Hamas claims readiness to release 34 hostages in 'first phase' of exchange deal; Israel denies receiving list

Palestinian fighter group Hamas claimed that it has approved a list of 34 hostages that it is ready to release in exchange for a ceasefire agreement, however Israel has denied reports of receiving anu such list.

The denial from Israeli side came after UK-based news agency reported that Hamas was ready to release hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, in a statement said, “Contrary to what was claimed, Hamas has not forwarded a list of names of hostages until this moment.”

Earlier, a senior Hamas official reportedly said that the fighter group was ready to release 34 Israeli hostages in the "first phase" of an expected prisoner exchange deal.

"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," the official was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

The Hamas official, on condition of anonymity said the 34 hostages included women, children, elderly people and sick captives that were still held in Gaza.

The official said Hamas requires time to determine whether they were alive.

"Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead. 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 official was quoted as saying.

As many as 251 Israelis were taken as hostages after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 202. Currently, 96 remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Negotiations were happening between Hamas and Isarel, which was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US but there has been no updates which both sides were expected to resume in Qatar over the weekend.

“Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the hostages, including the Israeli delegation that departed Jan 3 (Friday) for negotiations in Qatar,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the family of a hostage on Jan 4, as stated by his office.

Meanwhile, Israeli military continues to carry out its offensive against Palestinians with the recent one claiming at least 23 lives on Jan 5.