Hamas offered to release an Israeli-American hostage and the bodies of four others, following Palestinian militants and Israel re-launching indirect Gaza ceasefire talks.
The White House accused Hamas on Friday of presenting “wholly impractical” requests and delaying an agreement to free a US-Israeli hostage in exchange for the Gaza ceasefire’s extension.
Hamas is placing a very bad wager that time is on its side. It isn’t,” a statement released by the office of President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the US National Security Council stated.
Hamas is clearly aware of the deadline, and should well be aware that we will retaliate accordingly if that deadline is breached,” it said, noting that Trump had previously pledged Hamas would “pay a severe price” for failing to release hostages. Hamas had previously announced on Friday morning that it was prepared to release an Israeli-American hostage and the bodies of four others after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire talks.
Witkoff made a “bridge” offer in Qatar on Wednesday to prolong the initial phase of the ceasefire until mid-April if Hamas frees living hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas was given an ultimatum that this ‘bridge’ would need to be put in place shortly — and that double US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would need to be released immediately,” the statement added.
“Regrettably, Hamas has opted to react by having publicly declared flexibility but secretly making impractical demands without a permanent ceasefire,” it stated.
