A short time later, Israel released 30 Palestinians from Ofer prison and the Jerusalem detention center in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Prisoners Club, a semi-official organization, said half were female and the remainder were teenage males. This brought the total number of Palestinians released under the ceasefire to 180.
The hostages were among about 240 people captured by Hamas gunmen during an October 7 offensive in southern Israel, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed. Health officials there said more than 15,000 Gazans have been killed in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Qatar, which mediated indirect talks between Hamas and Israel that resulted in a ceasefire, on Tuesday hosted the spy chiefs of Israel’s Mossad and the United States’ CIA.
A source with knowledge of the matter said officials discussed possible parameters of a new phase of the ceasefire agreement, including Hamas releasing hostages who are men or military personnel, not just women and children. They also considered what might be needed to reach a ceasefire lasting more than a few days.
Qatar spoke to Hamas before the meeting to find out what the group could agree on. Israel and Hamas are now internally discussing the ideas explored at the meeting, the source said.
