Hamas demands truce for release of US-Israeli hostage

Cairo: Hamas has announced that it will only release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel agrees to implement the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is calling this an "exceptional deal" that aims to get the truce back on track.

A senior Hamas official has outlined the conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire talks. According to the official, these talks must commence on the day of the hostage release and conclude within 50 days. Additionally, Israel is expected to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid and withdraw from a critical corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt. Hamas is also seeking the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, said the official.

Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war and is the last living American citizen held in Gaza.

Israel has yet to comment on Hamas' latest proposal, as government offices were closed for the weekly Sabbath. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did respond on Friday, accusing Hamas of "manipulation and psychological warfare" when the offer was first made.

The US proposed extending the Israel-Hamas ceasefire by a few weeks to negotiate a permanent truce. However, the US criticised Hamas for making "entirely impractical" demands privately, despite claiming flexibility publicly.

Negotiations in Egypt are ongoing after senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Friday. Egypt and Qatar have played crucial roles in mediating between Hamas and Israel, facilitating the initial ceasefire agreement, and continuing to host talks to get it back on track.

Israel and Hamas were supposed to start negotiating the second phase of their ceasefire agreement in early February. This phase would involve Hamas releasing all remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce. However, only preliminary talks have taken place so far.

After the first phase ended earlier this month, Israel agreed to a new US proposal. This proposal involved Hamas releasing half of the remaining hostages in exchange for a vague commitment from Israel to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. Hamas rejected this offer, accusing Israel of backtracking on the original agreement and trying to sabotage the truce.

Israel has blocked food, fuel, and supplies to Gaza's 2 million Palestinians and cut electricity, pressuring Hamas to accept a new proposal. The January ceasefire agreement saw 25 Israeli hostages released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel has refused to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic area along the Gaza-Egypt border, citing the need to combat weapons smuggling.

The war between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Currently, 59 hostages remain captive, with 24 believed to be alive.

Israel's military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population, and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive.

(inputs from PTI)