Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 18, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Senior Hamas official denies CNN report that group will release 7-9 hostages for 60-day truce
Nurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri tells the Qatari Al Jazeera channel that a CNN report claiming Hamas is willing to release nine hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire is false.
The report had cited an unnamed Hamas official.
Abu Zuhri further claims that Hamas is prepared to release all the hostages in one phase, on the condition that Israel agrees to end the war with international guarantees.
He accuses Israel of trying to “confuse the public” with false reports in order to pressure Hamas.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here