Hamas Links Hostage Release to Ceasefire as Negotiations Stall

Hamas has reiterated that the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza will only happen if Israel agrees to a ceasefire deal, according to a Thursday morning statement from the terrorist organization.

The announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations that have yielded little progress. “We reiterate that the only way to secure the release of the occupation’s prisoners in Gaza is through negotiation and adherence to the agreed-upon terms,” Hamas stated.

“Any attempts by Netanyahu and his government to backtrack on or obstruct the agreement will only lead to further suffering for the prisoners and their families.”

Hamas further claimed that Israel’s efforts to obstruct the release of Palestinian prisoners had been countered by the intervention of Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

“The occupation’s attempts to obstruct the release of our prisoners have failed in the face of the movement’s insistence on the implementation of the occupation’s commitments,” the statement read.

“We have closed the door on the enemy’s false justifications, leaving it with no option but to begin negotiations for the second phase.”

The statement follows Israel’s recent retrieval of the remains of four hostages from Gaza. In exchange, Israel is expected to release approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners, pending official confirmation of the recovered bodies.

Stalemate in Phase Two Talks

Despite Hamas’s claims of readiness to negotiate, Israeli officials have indicated that discussions for the second phase of a potential hostage release deal remain deadlocked.

According to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, no significant progress has been made in securing the release of additional living hostages.

One source said that while indirect conversations had taken place between Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and U.S. businessman Steve Witkoff, who has been involved in negotiations, they had not led to any substantial breakthroughs.

“Witkoff did have a conversation with Dermer, and the mediators – there were ideas and inquiries, but no real negotiation with Hamas,” the source stated.

The slow pace of negotiations has heightened tensions, with Israeli families of hostages increasingly voicing frustration at the lack of progress. Meanwhile, Hamas remains firm in its demand that Israel agree to a broader ceasefire before any further hostages are freed.

With both sides unwilling to make concessions, the fate of the remaining hostages remains uncertain, prolonging the humanitarian and political crisis gripping the region.