A senior Hamas official tells AFP that the Palestinian terror group is prepared to release all remaining hostages in a single swap during the second phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
“We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase,” says Taher al-Nunu.
Nunu does not clarify if the terror group will also release the bodies of dead hostages, currently slated to be transferred in the third phase, in that potential single release.
The second phase of the agreement provides for the end of the war and the withdrawal of all IDF troops from Gaza.
Fifty-nine Israelis will remain in captivity after the completion of phase one of the deal — which was set to end March 2 — of whom 35 have been confirmed dead by Israeli authorities.
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