Hamas ready to free Israeli-American hostage, four bodies
Palestinian militants offer to release Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
A man at 'Hostages Square' in Tel Aviv reads in front of a clock counting the time Israeli hostages have been held captive in Gaza, during the reading of the Scrolls of Esther at the start of the Jewish holiday of Purim
Jack GUEZ / AFP
Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
However, Israel said Hamas had “not budged” following a proposal from United States (US) President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The White House accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands.
“Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not,” a statement from Witkoff’s office and the US National Security Council said.
“Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes.”
After more than 15 months of war, the first phase of a truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip ended on 1 March without agreement on the next steps. A senior Hamas official said on Tuesday fresh talks had begun in Doha, with Israel also sending negotiators.
A statement from the Islamist movement said its reply “included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship.”
Hamas official Taher al-Nounou told Agence France-Presse that all five are Israeli-Americans.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked Friday at the G7 group meeting in Canada if Washington was prioritizing the release of the American hostage, replied: “We care about all the hostages.”