Negotiations concerning the release of captives were halted by Hamas due to "Israel's" attacks against Al-Shifa hospital, the largest hospital complex in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports, citing a Palestinian official on Sunday.

Earlier this week, as reported by The New York Times and citing officials, indirect negotiations were underway between the Israelis and Hamas. These discussions involved two proposals regarding the release of captives from the Gaza Strip, one of which included potentially releasing 100 or more non-military captives.

But in the following days, the hospital housing thousands of displaced Palestinians was struck multiple times by the Israeli occupation forces. 

Despite efforts to evacuate the hospital, several people have been martyred and a number have sustained injuries.

The IOF denied surrounding or targeting hospitals but several videos circulating on social media have shown otherwise. 

Tanks can be seen from the windows of Al-Rantisi Hospital pic.twitter.com/8etJ0i0aN1

— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) November 10, 2023

Earlier today, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Ashraf al-Qudra, confirmed that the Israeli occupation is targeting everything moving around Al-Shifa Hospital.

Al-Qudra added that the Israeli occupation has turned Al-Shifa Hospital into "an open war zone," describing the situation as "catastrophic".

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health reported that two premature infants and an ICU patient died after the hospital had completely lost power as the last generator ran out of fuel, expecting more to die unless action is taken.

Related News

'Israel' enforcing starvation in Gaza amid aid blockade, UN warns

'Israel' enforces evacuation of last operating hospital in north Gaza

“The intensive care unit, pediatric department, and oxygen devices have stopped working,” al-Qudra said.

Read more: IOF tanks fire at Gaza's Al-Quds hospital: Palestine Red Crescent

Ceasefire possible, but with conditions

On another note, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that "Israel" might consider a comprehensive and enduring ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but only if it involves the unconditional release of captives.

On October 28, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the implementation of a ceasefire, but the resolution was quickly neglected after Netanyahu claimed that the move would constitute a surrender to Hamas.

Since then, Hamas has attempted to negotiate the release of captives several times, but these efforts were thwarted by the IOF. 

Qatar has been mediating between the US, "Israel", and Hamas on the captives' issue. One discussed idea is a potential deal involving the release of Israeli women and children in exchange for thousands of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Fuel access to Gaza is also under consideration.

It is worth noting that Amnesty International has reported a significant surge in the use of administrative detention by Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a form of arbitrary detention. Emergency measures facilitating inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners have been extended, and incidents of torture and deaths in Israeli prisons are not being adequately investigated, according to the organization.

#Watch | Israeli occupation forces used freed prisoner Alaa Abu Hashhash, blindfolded, as a human shield during confrontations with #Palestinian Resistance fighters in al-Fawwar camp in occupied al-Khalil.#Palestine #WestBank pic.twitter.com/lcwzyun79b

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 10, 2023

On Friday, Israeli news broadcaster Channel 13 reported, citing Israeli officials, that "Israel" is interested in a comprehensive prisoner swap deal and is "prepared to pay the price."

Previously, Abu Obeida announced that the Israeli regime refused to negotiate a prisoner deal swap and had thwarted the release of 12 Israeli captives.

Read more: Abu Hamza: Ready to release two captives on humanitarian grounds