Israeli official confirms: Hamas has provided ‘signs of life’ for several hostages held in Gaza

By Lazar Berman

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22 December 2024, 4:22 pm 18 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

A rally calling for the release of the hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, December 21 2024 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

As working groups continue their efforts in Doha to hammer out a hostage deal in Gaza, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel that Hamas has provided “signs of life” for several hostages.

Israel knows the whereabouts of most of the hostages, says the official, but would not say whether Hamas had provided a list of living hostages.

Israel will not accept an end to the war as part of a deal, says the official, but instead would agree to something along the lines of a “prolonged ceasefire.”

Ninety-six of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.