NEW YORK, November 9. /TASS/. The radical Palestinian movement Hamas is discussing the possible release of up to 15 hostages in exchange for a humanitarian ceasefire that would allow the organization of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times reported, citing sources.

According to its information, under the terms of the deal discussed by Hamas, Israel will suspend attacks for three days, which will allow "for humanitarian aid to be shipped into the enclave and hostages to be transported out." The newspaper emphasized that the deal includes several Americans held by the radical Palestinian movement. However, the exact number of hostages to be released remains under discussion. The talks, which involve US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns, are being mediated by Qatar.

The New York Times pointed out that US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are actively promoting a possible deal to release Hamas hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. According to the newspaper, representatives of the group offered to organize such an exchange shortly before the start of the Israeli ground operation in Gaza, but Israeli authorities "doubted Hamas sincerity" and authorized the start of the offensive.

On November 7, the Internet portal Axios reported that US President Joe Biden proposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend hostilities in the Gaza Strip for three days in order to free some of the hostages held by the radical Hamas movement. A senior Israeli official, for his part, told the US newspaper Politico that Israeli authorities are ready to suspend hostilities if Hamas releases a significant number of hostages.

On November 6, at an online briefing, White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby raised the issue of a possible suspension of military operations in Gaza for humanitarian purposes, but admitted that there were no specifics on the matter yet.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking hostages, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.