CAIRO (AP) — The Hamas militant group has dismissed President Donald Trump's recent ultimatum and reaffirmed that it will continue to negotiate for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Hamas accused both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to renege on a ceasefire agreement they reached in January, which entailed negotiations to facilitate the hostages' release in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua stated that the “best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” lies in negotiations regarding that second phase, which were supposed to begin in early February but have only seen limited preparatory discussions thus far. Trump's threats escalated when he claimed to have issued a "last warning" to Hamas after a meeting with eight former hostages.
The White House has confirmed it held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, which is regarded as a terrorist organization by Israel and Western nations. Trump expressed his sentiments on his Truth Social platform, demanding, “Release all of the Hostages now, not later,” and urged Hamas to return the remains of individuals killed in the conflict. He condemned the group, labeling them as "sick and twisted" for withholding bodies.
Both Israel and Hamas have historically utilized the remains of adversaries as bargaining chips in hostage-prisoner exchanges. Currently, Hamas is believed to be holding 24 living hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the ongoing conflict, which includes Israeli-American Edan Alexander. In addition, Hamas retains the bodies of 34 individuals killed during the initial assault or while in captivity, as well as that of a soldier who died in the 2014 conflict.
During the prior 42-day ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages alongside the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, culminating in the ceasefire's conclusion on Saturday. Israel now supports a new U.S. proposal for the second phase of negotiations that suggests Hamas release half of the remaining hostages immediately, with the remainder contingent on achieving a permanent ceasefire. Hamas has outright rejected this proposal, insisting on adhering to the agreement established in January.
In response to the ongoing stalemate, Israel has cut off essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine to the two million residents in Gaza to exert pressure on Hamas regarding the hostage issue. Israel has also hinted at “additional consequences” should Hamas fail to fulfill its obligations to resume releasing hostages.
The level of progress achieved in the recent U.S.-Hamas talks remains uncertain. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has pledged unwavering support for Israel's primary objectives of recovering all hostages and dismantling Hamas, a dual goal that might prove incompatible.
On October 7, Hamas-led militants executed a brutal attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, while 251 people were taken hostage. Most hostages have since been released through various ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Israeli forces have managed to rescue eight living hostages and recover the bodies of many others.
Israel's military operations have reportedly claimed over 48,000 Palestinian lives, predominantly among women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not disclose how many of the deceased were combatants. Israel, on its part, claims to have killed more than 17,000 fighters, although it has not provided evidence to substantiate these figures.
The ongoing military offensive has wrecked vast areas of Gaza and displaced a significant portion of its population, with hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking refuge in tents, makeshift shelters, or damaged buildings. The population is now heavily reliant on international aid.
