The US government is pressuring Hamas to immediately release other hostages from the Gaza Strip.
Washington rejected a Hamas offer to hand over what was possibly the last surviving dual Israeli-American citizen in exchange for the release of Israeli prisoners, writes A2 CNN.
The terrorist organization must either release some hostages immediately, as proposed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, or it will "pay a heavy price," a written statement issued by the National Security Council and Witkoff's office said.
The Israeli government accuses Hamas of manipulation and psychological warfare. According to his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to call a ministerial meeting to be briefed by the Israeli negotiating delegation and to decide on "steps to free the hostages and achieve all our war goals," the Israeli government statement said.
At a mediation meeting in the Gulf state, Witkoff presented an updated proposal for a several-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas would reportedly have to hand over at least five live hostages and the remains of about nine of the hostages on the first day of the ceasefire extension, while Israel would, in exchange, allow aid to flow into Gaza again. However, Hamas offered only the handover of the dual Israeli-American citizen and the bodies of the four kidnapped Israelis, who also held dual citizenship – leaving open the question of what other nationalities these were. Hamas wants to hold talks on a second phase of the original deal.
After mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar failed to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas during talks in the Qatari capital Doha, the talks could then continue in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Hamas has said its negotiating team is already on its way there, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Khirbet in the occupied West Bank, burning three homes and a number of cars in a series of raids that have escalated during the Gaza war. Local residents said the settlers entered the village, firing live ammunition and throwing tear gas canisters at people trying to put out the flames. (A2 Televizion)
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