Israel accused Hamas of deviating from the American proposal for a ceasefire extension after the terror organization announced on Friday that it had agreed to release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza captivity.
Hamas also said it would return the remains of four deceased hostages with American citizenship: Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, and Judy Weinstein Haggai. Israeli officials previously confirmed the deaths of all four hostages named by Hamas.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff presented an updated American proposal in Doha on Wednesday. A source involved in the negotiations told the Post that the proposal discussed by Witkoff included the release of five living hostages and several deceased hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire in Gaza for a few weeks.
In other words, Hamas's current proposal is quite different from the American mediator's proposal, the source added. The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Friday that Hamas "continues to enact manipulations and psychological terror" as it "refuses to budge a millimeter" from its original demands.
An Israeli official told The Post that Hamas's intention to release only hostages with American citizenships is "a manipulation intended to sabotage the negotiations…Hamas has not changed its position, despite American efforts, and despite our efforts to make concessions."
The terrorist organization also said that they received a new offer for phase two of the ceasefire and hostage deal from American mediators yesterday and responded positively to it.
In response to Hamas's statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security consultation in the next hours, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that it welcomes the return of every hostage, "whether they come home for rehabilitation or burial.
"The return of any number of hostages must only be the beginning of an immediate and comprehensive deal to secure the release of all hostages," the forum continued.
The forum stated that Trump's commitment to bringing all the hostages home has given them hope "during this darkest of times."
"As of today, 59 hostages remain. We pray every single day for a deal that brings every one of them home, immediately," the forum concluded.
The forum also attacked Netanyahu after the Prime Minister's Office said a cabinet meeting would be convened on Saturday 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 hostage families apologize for interrupting your Shabbat, but their loved ones do not have time to wait," a statement read. "24 more hours in captivity amount to 24 more hours of torture and torment, and 24 hours of risking their deaths."
US engaged in direct negotiations
Last week, it was initially reported that the Trump administration was engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas regarding the release of American hostages in Gaza, along with the potential for a broader agreement to end the war.
The talks, led by Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostages, are unprecedented, as the US has never previously communicated directly with Hamas, Walla reported.
Currently, five American citizens are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Four have been declared deceased, while 21-year-old Edan Alexander is believed to be alive.
