The Palestinian movement Hamas announced today (Saturday) that it will not release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages unless Israel implements the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, describing it as an "exceptional agreement" aimed at putting the truce back on track.
اضافة اعلان
A senior Hamas official stated that the delayed talks regarding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement should begin on the day the hostage is released and continue for more than 50 days. The official added that Israel must also stop preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and withdraw from the strategic Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt.
The official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the discussions taking place behind closed doors, said Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
The Israeli soldier of American descent, Eidan Alexander (21), who was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, was kidnapped from his military base during Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. He is the last American citizen still held in Gaza.
It is worth mentioning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hamas on Friday of "manipulating and launching a psychological war" when the offer was initially announced before Hamas revealed its conditions.
On Wednesday, the United States said it had proposed extending the ceasefire for a few more weeks while both sides negotiate a temporary truce. The U.S. added that while Hamas claims flexibility in public, it is demanding "completely impractical" terms in private meetings.
The first phase of the agreement, which ended in early March, resulted in the return of 33 hostages to Israel, including 8 deceased individuals, while Israel released 1,800 Palestinian detainees from its prisons. Palestinian factions also released five Thai hostages outside the exchange framework.
After the conclusion of the first phase, Israel expressed its desire to extend it, but Hamas is demanding that negotiations for the second phase of the agreement, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, begin. The agreement started on January 19.
Although the first phase ended, the ceasefire largely held, but the Israeli military continued to carry out deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported an airstrike that killed four Palestinian minors who were gathering firewood in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
In Deir al-Balah (central Gaza), Abu Ahmed told AFP, "We have no meat and not enough food. The crossings are closed, and our children need meat, and they have become weak."
Mediation efforts continue to address the differences between the two sides. After Israel suspended the entry of aid into the besieged Gaza Strip earlier this month, it also announced on Sunday that it would stop supplying electricity to the area.
In this regard, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem told AFP on Friday that the Israeli army had "failed to comply with the humanitarian protocol of the ceasefire agreement," as the occupation continues to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid, food, medicine, fuel, tents, and portable shelters.
Qasem emphasized that "Hamas does not want to return to war," but warned that "if the occupation resumes its aggression, we will have no choice but to defend our people."
Israeli media reported on Thursday that Tel Aviv had offered to extend the ceasefire for 50 days in exchange for Hamas releasing some of the 58 living and deceased hostages still held in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed these reports as "false."
