According to a report by Al Jazeera, an analyst has accused Israel of undermining efforts to secure both a ceasefire and a deal for the release of captives in Gaza, despite mounting pressure from the United States.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded the release of captives in recent days, but according to Sami al-Arian, a professor at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Hamas has maintained a consistent position. He explained that the group remains open to freeing captives in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and an end to the conflict.
“They’ve said ‘they’ll release the captives in exchange for the thousands of Palestinian prisoners but more importantly the war has to stop and Israel has to withdraw,’” al-Arian told Al Jazeera.
The analyst emphasized that Hamas has shown flexibility in previous negotiations. He pointed to an offer made just last week, when the group indicated it would release half of the remaining captives if Trump could secure a 60-day truce. That proposal, conveyed in a letter to the US president, was described as a significant gesture aimed at moving talks forward.
Al-Arian also noted that Hamas had been considering a more recent initiative from Trump when Israeli forces struck its officials in Doha, an act he argued disrupted progress. “Once Hamas or the resistance says yes, the response from them [Israel] is to withdraw from the negotiations or not respond,” he added, portraying Israel as deliberately stalling or derailing talks.
The comments highlight the challenges of brokering a ceasefire while balancing humanitarian concerns over captive exchanges. While the US president has voiced determination to see hostages freed, analysts like al-Arian contend that Israeli actions risk undermining the very negotiations needed to secure such outcomes.
With proposals on the table and opportunities for compromise emerging, the stalemate underscores how fragile the situation remains. For now, both the fate of captives and prospects for a truce appear tied to whether Israel and Hamas can engage in sustained dialogue without interruptions or escalations. See, More, Here>>>>
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