Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, four bodies

GAZA STRIP: Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

However, Israel said Hamas had “not budged” following a proposal from US President Donald Trump´s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands. “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not,” a statement from Witkoff´s office and the US National Security Council said.

“Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes.” After more than 15 months of war, the first phase of a truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip ended on March 1 without agreement on the next steps. A senior Hamas official said on Tuesday fresh talks had begun in Doha, with Israel also sending negotiators.

“Yesterday, a Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the brotherly mediators to resume negotiations,” the Islamist movement said in a statement on Friday. It said its reply “included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship”.