Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of an emerging ceasefire agreement being finalized by negotiators in Doha, two Israeli officials said.

The proposed three-phase deal would begin with the gradual release of 33 hostages—including women, children, elderly individuals and wounded civilians—over a 42-day period, in exchange for potentially hundreds of Palestinian women and children detained by Israel.

The source further claimed that the announcement regarding the hostage deal being achieved was being delayed until an accord could be obtained with regard to the mechanisms to implement it.