Hamas approves mediators' proposal to resume negotiations

GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Palestinian group Hamas on Friday said it has approved a mediators' proposal to resume negotiations by releasing an Israeli soldier with American citizenship and returning the bodies of four dual-national Israelis.

"The Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the mediators on Thursday to resume negotiations. The movement responded with responsibility and positivity, submitting its reply early Friday," the group said in a statement.

Hamas confirmed that its response included the “release of the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four others with dual nationalities."

The group reiterated its "full readiness to begin negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase," urging Israel to “fulfill its full commitments."

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is assessing his response to Hamas’ announcement, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.

The broadcaster cited an unnamed Israeli security source who claimed: "The mediators’ proposal includes the release of five live hostages," which Hamas has not confirmed.

“Hamas has stated that it accepts the initiative of US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, but this is not the document currently being discussed in Doha,” the source claimed.

On Thursday, Hamas announced it resumed talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha, with spokesperson Hazem Qassem affirming his group approaches the negotiations “positively and responsibly” to ensure the implementation of all phases of the ceasefire to end the war, withdraw Israeli forces and rebuild the enclave.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Wednesday that the Doha talks carry a “positive atmosphere,” with the Israeli delegation that arrived Monday extending its stay to pursue the ceasefire, despite prior Israeli reluctance to honor the agreement.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha on Tuesday to participate in the ongoing talks, which have been taking place since Monday.

The initial 42-day ceasefire phase of a three-phase ceasefire deal ended in early March, but Israel has resisted advancing to phase two, favoring extensions to secure additional releases of captives without meeting military or humanitarian obligations, a move seen as appeasing hardliners in Netanyahu’s government.

Hamas insists on enforcing the full agreement and pressed mediators to immediately launch phase two of the talks.

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which took hold in January, has halted Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 48,500 victims, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.