Hamas Intends to Continue Ceasefire, US-Israel Accuse Hamas of Manipulative

GAZA, SATURDAY - Hamas has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining the momentum of ceasefire negotiations. This willingness is evident through its acceptance of the mediator's proposal to release hostages, both those who are still alive and those who have passed away.

It is not yet known when the hostage release will take place. On Saturday (15/3/2025), Hamas claimed it would only release five hostages if Israel fulfills all ceasefire commitments. However, Israel and the United States accused Hamas of being manipulative.

The five hostages mentioned to be released consist of one living hostage and four deceased hostages. They are hostages with dual citizenship, United States-Israel. The living hostage is named Edan Alexander.

“Hamas will also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Alongside the plan for the release, Thursday (13/5/2025), Hamas announced the continuation of negotiations with mediators from Qatar and Egypt in Doha. Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qassem emphasized that his group is approaching these negotiations positively and responsibly.

A senior Hamas official stated that the second phase of ceasefire talks, which have been delayed, must commence on the day of the hostage release. The discussions should last no more than 50 days. Israel must also cease blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and withdraw its troops from the area.

Since January 19, 2025, the first phase of the ceasefire concluded on March 1 without an agreement for the next phase. The ceasefire negotiations were mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. The negotiations then continued in Doha this week. Israel also sent negotiators.

"The Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the mediators on Thursday to resume negotiations. This move was responded to responsibly and positively, by submitting its response on Friday morning," Hamas said in a statement on Friday (14/3/2025), as reported by the Anadolu Agency.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed doubts about Hamas' willingness. Israel accused Hamas of trying to manipulate the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israel claims to have received the outline of a proposal from the US team led by US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Doha on Tuesday (11/3/2025). Witkoff submitted a “bridge” proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire after Ramadan until mid-April if Hamas releases live hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, the two sides are negotiating a settlement to the war. According to Israel, Hamas has rejected the proposal.

“At the same time, Hamas continues to use manipulation and psychological warfare — reports of Hamas’ willingness to release American hostages are intended to sabotage negotiations,” the Israeli government letter to the hostages’ families read.

Israel's negotiating team returned from Doha on Friday. Netanyahu said he planned to gather a team of ministers to hear from negotiators and decide on the next steps on Saturday (3/15/2025) evening.

In a statement, Witkoff's office and the U.S. National Security Council called Hamas a "terrible gamble" in the Gaza talks and said Trump vowed Hamas would pay a price for not releasing the hostages.

"Hamas is betting badly that time is on its side. It is not. We will respond appropriately if the deadline is missed," the statement said.

According to the statement, Hamas shows flexibility in public, but behind closed doors, Hamas makes impractical demands.

Asked whether the U.S. prioritizes the release of American hostages, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. cares about all hostages. “I’m not going to comment on what we will accept and what we won’t accept, other than that we all have to continue to say that what Hamas is doing is outrageous,” Rubio told reporters after G7 talks in Canada.

Hamas kidnapped 251 people as hostages in the October 7, 2023 attack. Before the attack, Hamas had held two people in 2014 and 2015 as well as the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 Israelis, including eight bodies. Five Thai hostages were released separately. Meanwhile, Israel released about 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. This left Hamas with 59 hostages, although Israel believes 35 of them have been killed.

Edan Alexander is a soldier who was captured when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Quoted from The Times of Israel, he is a young man born in Tel Aviv who grew up in New Jersey, USA. He is believed to be the only US citizen hostage still alive in Gaza.

The 15-month Hamas-Israel war in Gaza has come to a temporary halt. The war has devastated much of Gaza, leaving much of the population dependent on international aid to survive.

Although Gazans began returning home, Israel cut off food, medicine, and electricity supplies to Gaza as a pressure tactic against Hamas. The situation worsened due to the unclear progress of ceasefire negotiations. On March 9, 2025, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cut off electricity to Gaza.

“Since March 2, WFP (World Food Programme) has been unable to deliver any food supplies to Gaza and has been forced to reduce the amount of food families receive to conserve supplies,” WFP tweeted on the X platform, Friday (3/14/2025).

Previously, WFP delivered more than 40,000 tons of food to Gaza during the ceasefire that Gazans survived during the first phase of the ceasefire. "With the closure of the border crossings, these hard-won efforts to maintain food security are now under threat. Continued access is essential. Progress must not be reversed," WFP wrote.

On Friday (14/3/2025), the G7 called for aid to flow to Gaza without hindrance. The statement marked a possible change in the US position in the Trump era which has not criticized Israel for blocking humanitarian aid.

"The G7 leaders called for the release of all hostages and for the return of bodies held by Hamas in Gaza to their loved ones. They reaffirmed their support for the resumption of unimpeded humanitarian assistance to Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire," the G7 statement said. (AP/AFP/Reuters)