Talks to Release Hostages , Break Down Ahead of Israel's , Ground Invasion of Gaza.<br />On October 27, negotiations to release some of <br />the 239 hostages held by Hamas came to a halt over <br />the militant group's demand for fuel deliveries to Gaza. .<br />NBC reports that a former U.S. official said that <br />without those fuel deliveries, Hamas declined <br />to guarantee the release of foreign captives.<br />The former U.S. official, an Israeli official and a diplomat, told NBC that the talks stalled prior to Israel's <br />deployment of troops in Gaza later on October 27.<br />Talks were going very well <br />on Thursday, and negotiators <br />were hopeful a deal could be <br />reached over the weekend, Anonymous diplomat, statement via NBC.<br />But differences emerged <br />early Friday, which led <br />to talks stalling, Anonymous diplomat, statement via NBC.<br />Talks to release the hostages have been ongoing since <br />October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack <br />that claimed the lives of over 1,000 Israeli civilians.<br />NBC reports that an estimated half of the <br />239 hostages are believed to come from <br />as many as 25 foreign countries, .<br />including 54 people from Thailand, <br />15 from Argentina, 12 from the U.S., <br />12 from Germany, six from France and six from Russia.<br />After Israel's ground operations were launched, Hamas’ <br />leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, released a statement <br />claiming the group was willing to continue negotiations.<br />We are ready for an immediate <br />exchange deal that includes <br />the release of all prisoners <br />in the prisons of the Zionist <br />enemy, in exchange for the <br />release of all prisoners <br />with the resistance, Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, statement via NBC.<br />We are ready for an immediate <br />exchange deal that includes <br />the release of all prisoners <br />in the prisons of the Zionist <br />enemy, in exchange for the <br />release of all prisoners <br />with the resistance, Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, statement via NBC
