Qatar seeking Israel-Hamas deal to free 50 hostages and 3-day truce, sources say

In Qatar, mediators are working on a negotiation between Hamas and Israel. They're discussing a possible exchange: about 50 civilians from Gaza might be released in return for a three-day ceasefire. The United States is involved in coordinating this potential agreement. If successful, Israel would also free some Palestinian women and children from its prisons and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. This could be the largest exchange since Hamas captured people after crossing into Israel. While Hamas has agreed to the basic idea, Israel is still considering the specifics. nnThe negotiations, led by Qatar, have evolved over the past weeks. Qatar has been a mediator in the past and has direct communication with both Hamas and Israel. For the deal to go through, Hamas must provide a full list of the civilians they're holding. The discussions are currently limited to the release of 50 civilians, not all hostages. A Hamas representative accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of not being committed to progress. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not commented on the situation. nnBack in October, Hamas militants entered Israel and took over 240 hostages, leading to a violent response from Israel. The conflict has resulted in many casualties and destruction in Gaza. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz stated that they aim to retrieve their hostages but will not cease military actions until their objectives are met. Previous negotiations had considered releasing fewer hostages and a shorter ceasefire. The situation in Gaza is dire, with medical professionals warning of a catastrophe due to the lack of resources for newborn care. The potential deal is complicated by the war's impact on Hamas's ability to organize and communicate, as well as the need for a ceasefire to gather the hostages. There's also been uncertainty about the agreement within Hamas's leadership and concerns that Israeli military actions are hindering the negotiation process.