Hamas Leader: We Agreed to Initiate Negotiations for Hostage Release

A leader in the Hamas movement stated to Agence France-Presse that the movement has agreed to "start negotiations" regarding the hostages "without a permanent ceasefire." The leader mentioned on Sunday that "Hamas previously conditioned discussions on hostages on Israel agreeing to a complete and permanent ceasefire." He added that "this condition has been surpassed, as mediators have pledged that as long as the prisoner negotiations continue, the ceasefire will hold." He stated that "Hamas has retreated from its condition for a permanent ceasefire, agreeing to commence negotiations without a permanent ceasefire." Earlier, the newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported from a political source that Tel Aviv would not agree to withdraw its forces from key points in the Gaza Strip as part of a hostage deal with Hamas. The newspaper noted that Israel is resuming indirect negotiations with Hamas today, which could lead to an end to the fighting in Gaza.