US slams Hamas offer to release American Edan Alexander
US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Hamas faces a fast-approaching deadline to accept Washington’s proposed ceasefire extension.
WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday blasted Hamas’ claim that it is willing to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as well as the remains of four other dual nationals.
US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said in a statement that he and Eric Trager, the National Security Council’s top official for the region, put forward a “bridge” proposal Wednesday evening in Doha that would extend the temporary ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, during which time negotiators would finalize a framework for a permanent end to the war. Hamas would free the living hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and a surge in humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.
Witkoff accused Hamas of “publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire.”
“Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not,” Witkoff said. “Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes.”
