The Islamist organization Hamas has informed the negotiators of a ceasefire with Israel that actually cannot identify and locate the 40 Israeli hostages needed for an exchange for Palestinian prisonersas reported by CNN.

The Hamas message, which was reported to the television news network by an official Israeli source and another related to the negotiations, raises fears that there may be more hostages dead than are publicly known.

CNN, which does not identify its sources, recalls that the framework established by the negotiators to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza imposes a six-week pause in fighting by Israel and the release by Hamas of 40 hostages, including all women, as well as sick and elderly men.

Almost 100 hostages still alive are soldiers

In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be released from prisons Israelis. Hamas has told international mediators – including Qatar and Egypt – that it does not have those 40 live hostages that they meet the criteria for their release, both sources have told CNN.

Investigations carried out by the American network on the situation of the hostages also suggest that there are fewer than 40 hostages alive who meet the criteria proposed in the negotiations. And given that Hamas seems unable to hand over the 40 kidnapped people requested, Israel has pushed for the Islamist organization to complete the initial release with younger male hostages, including soldiers, the Israeli official detailed.

It is believed that the majority of almost 100 hostages still alive are soldiers men from the Israeli Army or men of military reserve age. Hamas is expected to try to use them in later phases to try to negotiate more significant concessions, including more high-level prisoners and a permanent end to the war.