Amidst the ongoing conflict and recent reports of potential cease-fire negotiations, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refuted claims that Hamas presented a list of hostages for release. Earlier reports suggested Hamas had compiled a list of 34 hostages, potentially paving the way for a cease-fire agreement. These reports indicated that Hamas's willingness to release hostages was conditional upon Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent truce.
However, Netanyahu's office issued a statement directly contradicting these reports, emphasizing that no such list has been received from Hamas. This denial comes shortly after Netanyahu's release from the hospital following prostate surgery. The 75-year-old prime minister's health has been a subject of attention, with several procedures undertaken in recent years. These include hernia surgery in March and the implantation of a pacemaker in July 2023 following a dehydration incident.
Netanyahu's recent health challenges have coincided with his ongoing testimony in a corruption case and his leadership of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in operations across the Middle East, targeting Iranian terrorists and their affiliates.
