The Lebanon-based Hamas official Osama Hamdan said in an interview with CNN that "no one has any idea" how many of the remaining 116 hostages captured on 7 October last year were still alive, amid Israeli estimates that at least a third had died in captivity or were killed when seized.
Yesterday Hamas's Qassam Brigades said on their Telegram channel that two more Israeli hostages had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be confirmed.
Reiterating Hamas's position on the US-supported ceasefire proposal, now backed by a UN security council resolution, Hamdan said the group needed "a clear position from Israel to accept the ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, and let the Palestinians determine their future by themselves".
He also referred to the need for reconstruction and the end of the years-long Israeli blockade of Gaza. "[Then] we are ready to talk about a fair deal about the prisoners exchange," he said.
Hamdan's comments are the clearest public signalling of Hamas's position, which has remained largely unchanged in recent negotiations: that its agreement is conditional on Israel agreeing to end the conflict and withdraw its troops from Gaza.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Buying British Can Labour's defence plans spur growth?
Even in a room full of generals from around the world decked in military braid, the arrival of the prime minister causes a stir.
NatWest to absorb £24m cost of aborted "Tell Sid' ad campaign
NatWest was forced to spend £24m on the former Conservative government's aborted \"Tell Sid\"-style campaign featuring Sir Trevor McDonald, which would have resulted in a chunk of the bank's state-owned shares being sold to the general public in a highly anticipated privatisation drive.
The green petrostate How Norway is both climate hero and carbon villain
The average Norwegian is more likely than anyone else to drive to work in an electric car and warm their home with a heat pump.
Rocky role Navy chief who ran ship aground to thwart China
More than 25 years ago the BRP Sierra Madre was sent off for one final, secret, voyage. In the darkness of night the Philippine navy ship sailed from Manila Bay into the remote waters of the South China Sea. Then, to the surprise of many, it ran aground. And it has not moved since.
Bangladesh Protests turn into 'movement against a dictator'
Hasan still has the metal pellets police fired at him lodged deep in his bones. Fearful that he will join the growing ranks of those thrown behind bars by the state for participating in protests that have swept Bangladesh this month, Hasan has been in hiding for a week in \"constant panic and trauma\".
'Not playing around Whirlwind week for vice-president, both on and off the stage
The telephone line was a little fuzzy, and the voice on the end gravelly from several days of Covid isolation. Yet the poignancy of the message, and the moment itself, could not have been clearer: \"I'm watching you kid. I love you,\" the speaker said.
Protest vote Support for Harris held back until she halts 'funding of Gaza war'
The protest movement that sought to use the Democratic primaries to pressure Joe Biden to shift his policy on Israel and Gaza breathed a sigh of relief when he ended his bid for re-election, but they are not ready to promise support for Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Vice-president 'disrespectful' on Gaza, says Trump as he meets Netanyahu
Donald Trump called Kamala Harris's statement on the Gaza war \"disrespectful\" last night as he met the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Florida to discuss the conflict.
Brat power Charli Xcx's path from Myspace to White House
As someone outside the mainstream for much of her early career, Charli xcx has come a long way.
Badenoch accuses Tory leadership race rival of 'dirty tricks'
Kemi Badenoch has accused one of her Conservative leadership rivals of a dirty tricks campaign as she continues to consider a bid for the top job.