Hamas Demands Release of Notorious Palestinian Leaders in Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Hamas Presses Israel to Free Prominent Prisoners as Part of Gaza Deal Hamas is pressing Israel to include seven high-profile Palestinian prisoners in a list of 250 inmates set for release as part of a ceasefire deal. The prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, have been convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israeli civilians but remain symbols of resistance among Palestinians. The demand comes after the Israeli justice ministry published the names of the 250 prisoners to be freed, excluding the seven prominent inmates. Twenty Israeli hostages are expected to be released before 12:00 (09:00 GMT) on Monday as part of the deal proposed by US President Donald Trump. A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks told the BBC that US envoy Steve Witkoff had promised to raise the exclusion of the Palestinian prisoners with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Israel has firmly refused to include them. The move has sparked outrage among Palestinians, who see the prisoners as heroes and symbols of their struggle against Israeli occupation. The background context is complex, with years of tensions between Hamas and Israel culminating in a devastating conflict in Gaza last month. The ceasefire deal aims to bring an end to hostilities, but the exclusion of prominent Palestinian prisoners has raised concerns about the deal's legitimacy among Palestinians. As the clock ticks down to Monday's deadline, it remains unclear whether Israel will cave to international pressure and include the seven prisoners on the release list. The fate of Marwan Barghouti, a charismatic leader who has spent years in Israeli prisons, hangs in the balance. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Bbc reporting.*