Israeli and Hamas officials have held talks in Qatar to finalize a ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has said it is ready to release 34 prisoners as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, Reuters and AFP reported, citing a senior Palestinian official.
The Palestinian Authority, which controls the Gaza Strip, has accepted the release of the hostages “as the first step in a prisoner exchange agreement”, AFP reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Hamas official.
The initial exchange includes all women, children, the elderly and sick detainees being held in Gaza, AFP said the official.
Reuters cited an unnamed senior Hamas official as saying the ceasefire deal would depend on Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday said Hamas had to hand over a list of hostages for release.
The reports come as talks to find a ceasefire are underway in Qatar.
The administration of the President of the United States, Mr. Joe Biden, who is the mediator of these negotiations, hopes that it will be successful in the negotiations before the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, begins on January 20.
Reports from the Qatari capital Doha, Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem said there are still big differences to be bridged between the sides.
“Ultimately, a political decision is needed. And this decision is currently with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, while Hamas has thrown the ball in Israel's court. And it is up to Israel to take this to the second stage or not,” said Hashem.
Hashem said the talks are also taking place in light of Trump's warnings about the consequences of not fulfilling the agreement.
“Trump warned a few weeks ago that if there is no ceasefire when he starts work, hell will open. So who is he warning? Netanyahu? Doubtful. Hamas? Very likely,” said Hashem.
“So, how will Hamas deal with this? Will they give up what they have been wanting? Especially the issue of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Because right now, when Hamas releases the prisoners it is holding, there is no guarantee that the war will end. This is why Hamas it requires a clear commitment from Israel.
Israel on Sunday continued its bombardment of Gaza, with its military reportedly hitting more than 100 “terrorists” over the weekend.
Health officials in Gaza said Israeli gunmen killed more than 100 Palestinians, including five residents of a house in the Nuseirat camp and five in a police station in Khan Younis.
More than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war on Gaza in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.