Hamas Demands Release of Key Palestinian Prisoners in Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Hamas Presses Israel to Free Prominent Prisoners as Part of Gaza Deal In a critical development, Hamas is pressing Israel to include prominent Palestinian prisoners in a prisoner-release list as part of a ceasefire deal that will also see hostages returned from Gaza. The Israeli justice ministry had published the names of 250 prisoners to be freed, but excluded seven high-profile prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. Timeline: Monday: Twenty Israeli hostages expected to be released before 12:00 (09:00 GMT) as part of the deal proposed by US President Donald Trump. Ongoing negotiations: Hamas is insisting that the seven excluded prisoners be included in the release list, while Israel has firmly refused to do so. Immediate Impact and Response: The exclusion of prominent Palestinian prisoners has sparked outrage among Palestinians, who see them as symbols of resistance. A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks told the BBC that US envoy Steve Witkoff had promised to raise the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Israel has refused to budge. Background Context: Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat are serving sentences after being convicted of involvement in separate deadly attacks in Israel. They have long been seen by Palestinians as symbols of resistance against Israeli occupation. The prisoner release is part of a broader ceasefire deal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. What Happens Next: The fate of the seven excluded prisoners remains uncertain, with Hamas insisting that they be included in the release list. The negotiations are ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Israel will ultimately agree to their inclusion. As the clock ticks down to Monday's deadline for the release of Israeli hostages, tensions between Hamas and Israel remain high. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Bbc reporting.*