The White Home accused Hamas on Friday of constructing “totally impractical” calls for and stalling on a deal to launch a US-Israeli hostage in alternate for an extension of the Gaza ceasefire.
“Hamas is making a really unhealthy wager that point is on its aspect. It’s not,” a press release from the workplace of President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the US Nationwide Safety Council stated.
“Hamas is nicely conscious of the deadline, and will know that we’ll reply accordingly if that deadline passes,” it stated, including that Trump had already vowed Hamas would “pay a extreme value” for not releasing hostages.
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Hamas stated earlier on Friday it was able to free an Israeli-American hostage and the stays of 4 others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed oblique Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
Witkoff offered a “bridge” proposal in Qatar on Wednesday to increase the primary part of the truce to mid-April if Hamas releases dwelling hostages in alternate for Palestinian prisoners.
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“Hamas was informed in no unsure phrases that this ‘bridge’ must be carried out quickly — and that twin US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander must be launched instantly,” the assertion stated.
“Sadly, Hamas has chosen to reply by publicly claiming flexibility whereas privately making calls for which are totally impractical with no everlasting ceasefire,” it added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requested if the US was prioritizing the discharge of the American hostage, stated: “We care about all of the hostages.”
“We’re appearing like this can be a regular alternate, this can be a regular factor that occurs. That is an outrage. So they need to all be launched,” Rubio informed reporters after Group of Seven talks in Canada.
“I am not going to touch upon what we will settle for and never settle for, aside from that each one of us — the entire world — ought to proceed to say that what Hamas has carried out is outrageous, it is ridiculous, it is sick, it is disgusting,” he stated.
