Hamas delays response to hostage deal, likely to insist on complete ceasefire and full IDF withdrawal

According to a report in Al Jazeera on Sunday evening, a Hamas leader denied rejecting the proposed hostage deal by claiming the terror organization needed more time to “announce our position.” 

An earlier report in the Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya noted that Hamas was set to reject the deal, demanding a stronger position, including the release of more prisoners and a complete ceasefire and withdrawal by IDF troops from the Gaza Strip.

According to Al-Arabiya, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Ziad Nakhaleh and affirmed the two groups’ position that a ceasefire and withdrawal of IDF soldiers from all of Gaza was required before any Israeli hostages would be released. 

Meanwhile, a Hamas source spoke to Israeli news site N12, saying that Hamas will provide an answer soon, and affirming the group will insist on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, along with firm guarantees for the cessation of hostilities. 

Reports over the weekend indicated that a difference of opinion between Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza and those living comfortably in Qatar was part of the reason for the delay. 

Hamas broke the previous hostage deal ceasefire with Israel in early December when it began firing rockets toward the Jewish state instead of releasing the remaining female hostages, in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire. 

Several Israeli analysts at the time said that Hamas was afraid the women would testify to physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their captors, leading to poor publicity at a time when the terror organization was experiencing a remarkable level of international support. 

At his cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his position that he would not agree to the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, nor would he agree to end the war without achieving the nation's goal of dismantling Hamas. 

Several cabinet ministers reportedly called the current hostage proposal “reckless” and claimed it would endanger Israel’s war objectives. 

In response, Netanyahu told the ministers that he remains committed to the original goals of the war, namely: “the eradication of Hamas, the rescue of all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel.” 

IDF leadership reportedly supports a temporary ceasefire to achieve a hostage release, provided it doesn’t last too long. 

There are 136 hostages believed to be held in Gaza, although not all of them are living.