The White House is hoping to see a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas concluded before Joe Biden leaves office, Antony Blinken has said.

Hamas has announced its readiness to release 34 captives as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, as reported by Reuters and AFP. The release will occur in the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal, which will include women, children, elderly individuals, and those in poor health.

The agreement is part of the first phase of a potential three-stage ceasefire but Israel is unlikely to accept a ceasefire without finalising the release of hostages

A Hamas official indicated that the group was ready to release 34 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, as part of the “first phase” of a prisoner exchange deal. However, the official acknowledged the need for additional time to verify the condition of the captives.

A senior Hamas official has shared with the BBC a list of 34 hostages that the Palestinian group says it is willing to release in the first stage of a potential ceasefire agreement with Israel. It is unclear how many hostages remain alive.

Hamas has approved an Israeli list of 34 hostages to be exchanged in a possible ceasefire deal, Reuters reported, citing a Hamas official.

Palestinian militant group Hamas has approved a list of 34 hostages presented by Israel to be exchanged in a possible ceasefire deal, a group official told Reuters on Sunday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter,