"We demand the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for over 200 days. Among these hostages are citizens of our countries," said a joint statement by the leaders of the 18 countries released today by the White House. The statement is also signed by Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain and Thailand.

According to the document, "the fate of the hostages and of the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected by international law, is a matter of international concern".

The leaders argue that the agreement on the table to release the hostages would allow for "an immediate and durable ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, which would facilitate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance needed by the territory and lead to "a credible end to hostilities".

"The people of Gaza could return to their homes and lands", with prior actions to ensure they had shelter and humanitarian assistance, they add.

The joint statement comes one day after the Islamist group Hamas released a video showing one of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, criticising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for abandoning the hostages.

Today, a senior Hamas political official assured that the Islamist group is willing to move forward with a truce of at least five years with Israel, if an independent Palestinian state is established.

Al-Hayya was speaking to the Associated Press, at a time when there is still a stalemate in the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October in Israeli territory resulted in the death of 1,170 people, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.

Around 250 people were also kidnapped and taken to Gaza, where 129 are still being held, according to Israel, including 34 already considered dead by the army.

The vast military retaliation operation carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip has already caused more than 34,000 deaths.

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