Hamas says it is willing to release the last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, as well as the bodies of four other dual citizens the terror group murdered in captivity. At the same time, it is rebuffing deals that would secure the continued release of both living and dead hostages, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the terror group of "manipulation and psychological warfare."
Hamas's Friday statement did not provide details on what it requested in return for the releases. Earlier this month, the terror group rejected Israel's request to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which consists of hostage releases without a commitment to end the war. Hamas has also refused a proposal from Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had accepted, that would extend the ceasefire for another month and spur the release of five living hostages. "Hamas stands by its refusal and has not budged a millimeter" on that deal, Netanyahu said Friday.
"While Israel has accepted the Witkoff proposal, Hamas persists in its refusal and continues to wage psychological warfare against hostage families," Netanyahu's office said in a statement issued in the wake of the Hamas announcement. "The Prime Minister will convene the ministerial team tomorrow evening for a detailed briefing from the negotiating team, and to decide on steps to free the hostages and achieve all our war objectives."
The ordeal comes as Israel readies a plan, first reported in the Washington Free Beacon, to resume war in the Gaza Strip and "eradicate Hamas." It signaled the start of that plan earlier this month, when it halted any entry of goods into the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas's rejection of Witkoff's phase one ceasefire extension.
Following Hamas's announcement, Witkoff confirmed he presented a "bridge" proposal in Doha on Wednesday that would have extended "the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire." Hamas was told "in no uncertain terms that this 'bridge' would have to be implemented soon—and that dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately."
"Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire," Witkoff said, adding that Hamas "is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes."
Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier, has been locked in the Gaza Strip for the last 17 months, and the Trump administration has made it a priority to secure his release. Witkoff told reporters last week that "Edan Alexander is very important to us as all the hostages are."
As part of the efforts to free him, Trump directed White House envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler to engage in direct negotiations with Hamas, also in Doha. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called those negotiations a "one-off" that "hasn't borne fruit." Shortly thereafter, on Thursday, news broke that the administration had sidelined Boehler from Hamas negotiations.
Trump, for his part, has talked tough on Hamas, ordering the terror group earlier this month to release all hostages or face swift repercussions.
"Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say."
Hamas, meanwhile, is angling to initiate the ceasefire’s second phase, which would require Israel to remove its military from the Gaza Strip and cease all operations. Netanyahu’s government is not yet prepared to take this step, instead requesting that the deal’s first phase be extended so that more hostages can return home.