Hamas releases video of 2 hostages as it mulls cease-fire

The U.S. has been seeking a temporary cease-fire in Gaza that would see Hamas free female, wounded, elderly and sick hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid. In subsequent phases, the remaining captives — including the bodies of those who’ve died — could be released under a process that U.S. officials say should eventually end the fighting.

Ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas have been mediated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

Netanyahu heads the most right-wing government in Israel’s history and his hard-line allies have condemned the renewed efforts to strike a deal with Hamas. One of them, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, warned against what he described as a “dangerous Israeli capitulation” in a post on X.

Saudi Arabia plans to host high-level talks on Monday to discuss Gaza’s future. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to attend and then visit Israel a day later.

Al-Hayya told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Hamas would lay down its arms if a Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. He insisted it wouldn’t back down from its demands for an end to the war in Gaza and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, which Israel has refused.

Israel’s offer doesn’t give a clear answer to Hamas’ demands for a troop pull-out and comprehensive cease-fire, an unidentified senior Hamas official told the Al Mayadeen TV channel. Unless it makes major changes to the proposal, the prospects aren’t high that it can lead to an agreement, the official added.

Israel has been waging a devastating offensive in Gaza since Hamas fighters swarmed across the border almost seven months ago, killing about 1,200 people. The group abducted another 250, of whom more than 130 remain inside Gaza, some of them dead.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have died, according to Hamas-run health authorities, which don’t distinguish between military and civilian casualties.

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(With assistance from Galit Altstein and Shamim Adam.)