The Hamas movement agreed to start negotiations regarding captives without a permanent ceasefire, according to a senior leader in the movement quoted by Agence France-Presse.

 

The statement came amid renewed mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to urge the Israeli Occupation and Hamas to engage in talks for a prisoner exchange agreement.

 

The leader, who requested anonymity, stated that Hamas previously required the Israeli Occupation to agree to a permanent ceasefire to negotiate captives, as reported by AFP.

 

The official noted that "this condition was bypassed as mediators promised that as long as the prisoner negotiations continue, the ceasefire would hold."

 

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Sunday that the death toll had risen to at least 38,153, with 87,828 injured since October 7.

 

The number of Israeli Occupation soldiers killed increased to 680 since October 7, with 324 killed since the start of the ground operation on October 27.

 

According to the Israeli Occupation army, 4,096 soldiers were injured since the aggression on Gaza began. Among these, 608 were in critical condition, 1,031 had moderate injuries, and 2,454 had minor injuries.