Hamas agrees to release US-Israeli hostage, four bodies

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

Israel, however, said Hamas had “not budged” following a proposal from US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

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 Palestinian group said in a statement.

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.” Hamas official Taher Al Nounou told AFP that all five are Israeli-Americans.

Witkoff was in Qatar this week. According to Israel, he earlier proposed an extension of the truce’s first phase through to mid-April.
The extension would see half of the hostages still in Gaza released on the day the deal comes into effect, with the rest to be released at the end if agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, Israel said.

Hamas has insisted on talks for the second phase of the deal brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

A source close to Hamas told AFP that “new criteria have been agreed” and include “an increase in the number of detained Palestinians” to be freed.

RESUME ‘UNHINDERED’ AID

The G7 group, which includes the United States, called on Friday for the resumption of “unhindered” humanitarian aid for Gaza, marking a possible shift in position by the administration of President Donald Trump, which had not previously criticised Israel for blocking aid.

In a joint statement by its foreign ministers in Canada, the group “reaffirmed their support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire.”

‘BRIDGE PROPOSAL’

The United States is proposing a “bridge” plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza into April beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities, the White House said in a statement on Friday.

The proposal was presented on Wednesday by Witkoff and National Security Council official Eric Trager, according to a statement issued by their offices.

“Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this “bridge” would have to be implemented soon — and that dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately,” it added.

Agencies