We know where most of the Hamas hostages are, say Israeli officials

An Israeli official has confirmed that Hamas has provided signs of life for several hostages in Gaza as negotiations continue in Qatar over a potential hostage deal and ceasefire.

An Israeli official told the Times of Israel on Sunday that Israel was aware of the general location of most of those being held: “We know the whereabouts of most of the hostages.”

However, the official declined to confirm whether Hamas had provided an official list of those alive in its custody.

The source emphasised that Israel would not accept a full cessation of hostilities as part of any agreement. Instead, Israel reportedly sought a "prolonged ceasefire" that would allow for continued negotiations and humanitarian aid while still maintaining military objectives.

The Israeli negotiating team have been in Qatar for over a week, participating in intensive negotiations aimed at finalising a deal that could bring some hostages home.

According to Al-Ghad, an Egyptian news outlet, Israel has asked for the release of 11 Israeli men — whom Hamas classifies as soldiers — as part of the first phase of a potential exchange.

These individuals would join other hostages, including children, female soldiers and elderly or sick captives, in being freed in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

Israeli officials have also expressed concern that Hamas may use these prisoners as leverage to secure the release of additional non-categorised prisoners, complicating the already delicate negotiations.

The hostage crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists abducted 251 people during a brutal assault on southern Israel.

While 96 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, 34 have been confirmed by the Israeli Defence Forces as having died or been killed in the tunnels of Gaza.

Most of those still in captivity are civilians, including families abducted from their homes and attendees of a music festival in the Negev.

Despite a report from BBC on Sunday that negotiations are “90 per cent completed”, with discussions focusing on control over the Gaza-Egypt border and potential humanitarian aid corridors, Israeli officials have expressed caution about the chances of a quick resolution.

A senior Palestinian official involved in the talks confirmed that discussions also include the potential creation of a buffer zone along Gaza’s border with Israel, but emphasised that key issues still need to be resolved. "Once these issues are resolved, a potential ceasefire could begin within days," the official said.

Inside Israel, political tension in Israel surrounding the hostage negotiations has only intensified,

Opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former war cabinet minister and leader of the National Unity party, sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, accusing him of “sabotaging” the hostage talks.

In a statement to the press, Gantz said Netanyahu's recent comments to The Wall Street Journal — in which the prime minister reiterated that Israel would not agree to end the war before dismantling Hamas — were undermining efforts to reach a deal.

"Netanyahu is once again running to the foreign media and talking," Gantz said, predicting that "once again a ‘political figure will be briefing [reporters] at the end of the week”.

Netanyahu responded by dismissing Gantz’s criticism, telling reporters that the former war minister "cannot preach" on matters of national security.