GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Nov  8, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Negotiations 
are underway for the release of a dozen hostages held by Hamas, including six 
Americans, in return for a three-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a source 
close to Hamas said Wednesday.
       
"Talks revolve around the release of 12 hostages, half of them Americans, 
in exchange for a three-day humanitarian pause, to enable Hamas to release the 
hostages and to enable Egypt an extended (period of time) to deliver 
humanitarian aid," the source said.
       
"There's disagreement around the time period and around the north (of the 
Gaza Strip), which is witnessing extensive combat operations," the source said.
       
"Qatar is awaiting an Israeli response," they added.
       
Earlier Wednesday, a separate source briefed on the talks said Qatar was 
mediating negotiations in coordination with the US to free "10-15 hostages in 
exchange for a one- to two-day ceasefire".
       
Fighting has raged in Gaza for over a month following Hamas' shock October 
7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more 
than 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
       
In Gaza, 10,569 people, also mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel's 
retaliatory military campaign to destroy Hamas, the health ministry in the 
Hamas-run Palestinian territory has said.
       
Qatar has been engaged in intense diplomacy to secure the release of those 
held by Hamas, negotiating the handover of four hostages -- two Israelis and 
two Americans -- in recent weeks.
              
- Families welcome every release -

        
Following reports on the latest negotiations, the Hostages and Missing 
Persons Families Forum said it welcomed "the return of each and every hostage".
       
However, "any move toward a ceasefire should include the release of all 
hostages from Gaza", the group said in a statement.
       
Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, also 
hosts the political office of Hamas and is the main residence of its 
self-exiled leader Ismail Haniyeh.
       
The wealthy Gulf emirate has been a fierce supporter of the Palestinian 
cause and has open channels of communication with Hamas, the Islamist rulers of 
Gaza.
       
Amid repeated calls for a ceasefire, Qatar has lamented the escalating 
violence visited on Gaza and its 2.4 million inhabitants, saying Israeli 
bombing undermines mediation efforts and de-escalation.
       
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin 
Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the Gulf state was "determined to continue its 
mediation", despite difficulties "caused by the actions of the Israeli 
occupation".
       
The G7 grouping of economically advanced nations called on Wednesday for 
"humanitarian pauses and corridors" in the conflict but refrained from calling 
for a ceasefire during talks in Japan.