JERUSALEM — Hamas announced on Friday its acceptance of a proposal from mediators to release a living American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four dual-nationals who had died in captivity. However, the Israeli prime minister’s office expressed immediate doubt about the offer, accusing Hamas of manipulative tactics during the ongoing talks in Qatar regarding the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
The militant group in the Gaza Strip did not specify the timeline for the release of soldier Edan Alexander and the four bodies nor the conditions for the exchange.
Mediation Efforts and Negotiations
It remains unclear which mediators proposed the release to Hamas as the militants did not disclose their identities. The United States, led by the Trump administration’s hostage envoy Steve Witkoff, has been advocating for a proposal that would extend the truce and facilitate limited hostage-for-prisoner exchanges.
Following Hamas’s statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged accepting the Witkoff outline with flexibility. However, they accused Hamas of refusing to cooperate and resorting to psychological warfare to disrupt the negotiations.
Israel’s negotiating team is expected to return from Doha, Qatar, where the talks are taking place. Netanyahu plans to convene his ministerial team to assess the progress and chart the next steps in the negotiations.
Current Ceasefire Status and Future Prospects
The initial phase of the ceasefire concluded two weeks ago, and while the truce remains in place, tensions persist. The White House recently disclosed engaging in direct talks with Hamas officials, deviating from the longstanding U.S. policy of non-engagement with the militant group.
It remains uncertain whether these talks influenced Hamas’s decision to release Alexander and the four captives’ remains.
Hamas official Husam Badran reiterated the group’s commitment to fully implement the ceasefire agreement and cautioned Israel against deviating from the agreed terms.
The first phase of the ceasefire involved the return of 25 living hostages and eight remains in exchange for the release of close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Humanitarian Concerns and Negotiation Challenges
With 24 hostages and 35 remains still in Hamas’s custody, the focus remains on securing the release of all captives. The Hostage Families Forum emphasized the importance of a comprehensive deal to safeguard the remaining hostages.
Israel has been urging Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages to extend the ceasefire and initiate negotiations for a lasting peace agreement. The recent cutoff of supplies to Gaza has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, affecting food and water access for the territory’s population.
Hamas is pushing for negotiations on the ceasefire’s second phase, which includes the release of all remaining hostages, Israeli forces’ withdrawal, and a sustainable peace agreement.
Regional Context and Religious Observances
As Jews celebrate the Purim holiday and Muslims observe Ramadan, tensions in the region remain high. Access restrictions at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque have raised concerns among Muslim worshippers, highlighting the religious sensitivities in the area.
Hamas has accused Israel of escalating religious tensions and targeting Muslim practices, while Israel has not yet responded to these allegations.
