Hostage Deal on the Horizon? Hamas Signals Willingness to Release More Live Captives

According to Arab media reports, mounting pressure from Israel’s military operations in Gaza, combined with diplomatic efforts from the United States, is pushing Hamas toward a shift in its stance on hostage negotiations. Sources indicate that the terror group may agree to release a greater number of live hostages, with Israel’s latest proposal calling for the release of ten captives alongside the return of ten deceased soldiers’ remains.

As recently as last Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ron Dermer, the minister overseeing negotiations with Hamas, briefed cabinet members on signs of movement in Hamas’s position. On Monday morning, further reports emerged in Arab media outlets, amplifying optimism about a potential breakthrough.

Saudi media sources revealed that mediators, alongside the United States, are pressing Hamas to finalize a deal by the end of the month. According to these reports, Hamas has agreed in principle to increase the number of live hostages released to ten, including Edan Alexander, whose video was released by Hamas on Sunday evening. Israel, in turn, would accept the proposal provided Hamas also returns the remains of ten fallen soldiers.

A Lebanese newspaper reported that the initial proposal includes a ceasefire lasting between 40 and 70 days and the release of approximately 1,100 Palestinian security prisoners. The deal reflects intense U.S. efforts to secure a swift ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.

The backdrop to these negotiations is Israel’s escalating military campaign. On Sunday, the IDF announced it had gained control over 40% of Gaza’s territory, a strategic pivot from short-term raids to a sustained presence. The capture of the Morag corridor, severing Khan Younis from Rafah, and operations in Gaza City’s Diraj Tufah neighborhood have expanded Israel’s hold over key areas. Senior officials say the goal is clear: to upend the status quo by encircling Hamas, restricting humanitarian aid, and compelling the group to return to the negotiating table.

The IDF’s new approach, described as a shift to “long-term control”, is already reshaping Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that “hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have left their homes,” with vast areas now functioning as Israeli security zones. “If Hamas continues to resist, we will intensify our actions,” he warned.

During Passover, the IDF and Shin Bet struck a Hamas command center operating from Al-Ahli Hospital, while armored units in southern Gaza destroyed tunnels, observation posts, and dozens of terrorists, including a senior Hamas sniper deputy in a targeted strike.

Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who spent the Passover Seder with troops, reiterated the priority: “Releasing all hostages is our ultimate mission. Every action in Gaza serves this goal.” Speaking to Nahal Brigade fighters, he called it “true freedom.”

While Israel’s military and diplomatic pressures appear to be yielding tentative progress, Hamas has yet to formally respond to the proposal. As the nation holds its breath, the possibility of a deal, however fragile, offers a glimmer of hope for the return of those held captive and all of us, desperately awaiting their return.