Hamas: Ready to free Israeli hostage

GAZA: Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian fighters and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

Israel, however, said Hamas had 'not budged' following a proposal from US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

After more than 15 months of war, the first phase of a truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip ended on March 1 without agreement on the next steps. A senior Hamas official said on Tuesday fresh talks had begun in Doha, with Israel also sending negotiators.

'Yesterday, a Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the brotherly mediators to resume negotiations,' the group said.

It said its reply 'included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship'.

Hamas official Taher al Nounou said that all five are Israeli-Americans.

Witkoff was in Qatar this week. According to Israel, he earlier proposed an extension of the truce's first phase through to mid-April.

The extension would see half of the hostages still in Gaza released on the day the deal comes into effect, with the rest to be released at the end if agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, Israel said.

Hamas has insisted on talks for the second phase of the deal brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

'While Israel accepted the Witkoff framework, Hamas remains firm in its refusal and has not budged a millimetre,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, accusing Hamas of resorting to 'manipulation and psychological warfare'.

During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, militants released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

A source close to Hamas said that 'new criteria have been agreed' and include 'an increase in the number of detained Palestinians' to be freed.

Netanyahu's office said he will meet later on Saturday with several cabinet ministers 'to receive a detailed report from the negotiation team and decide next steps towards freeing the hostages'.

Despite the expiry of the first phase, the ceasefire has largely held.

Israel's military said on Thursday it carried out an air strike targeting militants who were planting explosives in central Gaza, the latest such strike.

Israel halted aid deliveries into Gaza 13 days ago over the truce deadlock. At the weekend, it also cut off the electricity supply, which largely halted output from Gaza's main water desalination plant.

The G7 group, which includes the United States, called on Friday for the resumption of 'unhindered' humanitarian aid for Gaza, marking a possible shift in position by the administration of President Donald Trump, which had not previously criticised Israel for blocking aid. — AFP