'Significant progress' on negotiations to release captives held by Hamas: CNN

Ahram Online , Friday 27 Oct 2023

Diplomatic sources told CNN that there has been "significant progress" on negotiations to release captives held by Hamas, but there are issues "still remaining", they added.

MOFA Qatar
File photo: Qatar s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani meets US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Thursday, Sep 22, 2022. Photo courtesy MOFA Qatar

 

"Negotiations are going very well. We have a breakthrough," the sources said. "There are issues still remaining, but talks are ongoing, and we remain hopeful."

The remarks come as Barbara Leaf, Washington's top Middle East diplomat, is in Doha for meetings with Qatar's leadership, CNN reported.

Commenting on the status of the negotiations, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said at a press conference on Thursday that "every channel is a possible channel."

Hamas said Thursday that near-constant Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed almost 50 captives they were holding.

Doha's mediation played a key role in the release of two US captives, who had been held since the war broke out.

Hamas said it was working with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to release "civilian" captives taken during their 7 October attacks on Israel.

The group said they were "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian file if appropriate security conditions allow."

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