Hostage Updates

We’re told that Hamas will release an American hostage and four bodies as we see in an article from The Media Line:

Hamas announced on Friday that it has agreed to release hostage soldier Edan Alexander, an American citizen captured on October 7, along with the bodies of four other slain captives who also held dual citizenship. The terror group did not name the four deceased individuals but stated it is prepared to hand them over to facilitate a broader negotiation process.

The terrorists say they’re doing it to get the second phase of the negotiations:

Alexander, stationed near the Gaza Strip at the time of the Hamas cross-border incursion on October 7, was taken captive amid the violence that ensued. In a statement, Hamas reiterated its “complete readiness to initiate negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase,” while also calling on the Israeli government to “fully implement its obligations.”

Overall, Hamas appears to only be playing games with Israel and even the US, although the offer could help:

The development comes as part of ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages and recover the remains of those who were killed. Israeli authorities have not yet responded publicly to this latest offer. Observers note that such proposals can serve as potential starting points for more extensive prisoner-exchange or ceasefire negotiations, though both sides have historically shown caution when entering talks mediated by international parties.

But according to another report, this one from The Jerusalem Post the US isn’t buying it:

US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff dismissed on Friday Hamas's claim that it would release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in addition to the remains of four other American hostages. 

Witkoff rightly sees this as yet another stalling tactic that Hamas is infamous for:

In a joint Friday statement with the US National Security Council, Witkoff warned that the organization could no longer play for time with a ceasefire and hostage deal. 

He then tell us exactly what is going on with the terrorists and their public versus private negotiations:

"Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire," the statement read.

"Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side.  It is not.  Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes."

Witkoff asserts that time is running out on Hamas and they know it.

A Deal Is On The Table

As we know, the US offered a bridge plan that Israel agreed to:

The United States proposed 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. 

The Jerusalem Post previously reported that Witkoff presented the updated proposal in Doha on Wednesday. A source involved in the negotiations said that the proposal discussed by Witkoff included the release of five living hostages and several deceased hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire in Gaza for a few weeks.

Hamas’s reply isn’t seen as a serious one by Israel:

As such, Hamas's proposal is markedly different from the US's "bridge" proposal. The Prime Minister's Office noted on Friday that Hamas "continues to enact manipulations and psychological terror" on hostages and their families and that the terrorist organization "refuses to budge a millimeter" in negotiations. 

The US explained the differences between what Hamas wants and what they want:

The US's Friday statement noted the differences between the proposals.

"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.

Israel also weighed in things:

An Israeli official also told the Post that Hamas's intention to release only hostages with American citizenships is "manipulation intended to sabotage the negotiations...Hamas has not changed its position, despite American efforts, and despite our efforts to make concessions."

A prominent Israeli hostage group is happy when any hostage is released, but hopes that it also leads to getting them all back:

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that it would welcome the return of any hostage, dead or alive.

"The return of any number of hostages must only be the beginning of an immediate and comprehensive deal to secure the release of all hostages," the forum stated.

They also think US President Trump is a big help:

The forum stated that the Trump administration's commitment to bringing all the hostages home has given them hope "during this darkest of times."

The forum then had harsh words for Prime Minister Netanyahu:

Additionally, the forum went on to attack the Prime Minister's office for waiting to hold a cabinet meeting until after Shabbat ends on Saturday evening.

"The hostage families apologize for interrupting your Shabbat, but their loved ones do not have time to wait," the forum statement read. "24 more hours in captivity amount to 24 more hours of torture and torment, and 24 hours of risking their deaths."

I totally get their frustration with the PM and his leaders. I too, think that things should be going faster and even a rescue attempt that fails is better than waiting. But I think all of these critics should be heaping tons of anger on the real enemies here and that is Hamas. If the public does that then it foils the terrorist’s psychological warfare. But I think we can agree that the losers in all of this are the people who have spent 525 days in captivity. And our prayers are with them.