The United States has asked Qatar to mediate the release of Hamas "detainees" in Gaza after it confirmed that military rescue was impossible, the New York Times said, noting that there is a great danger to the lives of those "detainees" military and civilian in the event of an attempt to release them by force.
Immediately after the October 7 Hamas military operation, Qatar engaged in talks aimed at their release, given its numerous successful mediations in the past, culminating in the release of Western nationals in various countries.
It quoted an Israeli military official as saying that as a result of the ongoing talks, Hamas could release 50 "detainees" with dual Israeli and Western citizenship.
A former U.S. official and a senior Western official familiar with the talks also said there was optimism that Hamas would release the women and children.
The Western official explained that Hamas had confirmed in the talks with Qatar that it had not instructed its fighters to detain women and children, and that it had been carried out by people who were not affiliated with it.
The same source indicated that the movement also informed the negotiators that it does not detain all those captured in the Gaza envelope area.
Meanwhile, the IDF military spokesperson said the families of 203 soldiers had been informed that their sons were "kidnapped" in Gaza.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, said on Monday that foreign prisoners would be released when conditions on the ground permitted.
Abu Obeida added that the number of Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance is between 200 and 250, with the Qassam Brigades holding about 200 prisoners and the rest distributed among other resistance components.