Doha/Cairo, 9 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Negotiations are under way on the release of around a dozen hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip along with a two to three-day ceasefire, a person with knowledge of the talks told dpa on Thursday.

The negotiations are being conducted via the mediation of Qatar and in consultation with the United States, the source said.

The talks are said to revolve around the "release of 10 to 15 hostages in return for a 48 to 72-hour humanitarian pause" in the fighting.

Israel launched massive airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel that killed 1,400 people on October 7.

Israel has since expanded its ground operations in Gaza and penetrated into Gaza City, a Hamas stronghold.

Israeli political and military leaders say they are intent on eradicating Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the start of the war stands at 10,569, the Hamas-run Health Ministry says.

Hundreds of thousands have fled the fighting. Many foreign nationals or dual passport holders remain in the besieged coastal territory.

Photo: MIA archive