Hamas says ready to free all remaining hostages in one swap in phase two of Gaza truce

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories - A senior Hamas official told AFP on Wednesday that the Palestinian militant group was prepared to release all remaining hostages in a single swap during the second phase of the Gaza truce.

"We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase," said Taher Al Nunu.

Hamas and Israel announced a deal Tuesday for the release of six living hostages from Gaza and the return of four captives' bodies – including the remains of two young boys seen as national symbols back home.

Israel's campaign has killed at least 48,291 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
Of 251 people seized in the Hamas's 2023 attack, 70 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.