In his first comment after Hamas agreed to release Israeli dual-nationality prisoners, the Prime Minister of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that the movement is engaging in what he described as “games”.
According to the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on Hamas’s announcement of its agreement to release the hostage Aidan Alexander and four other deceased hostages, saying, “While Israel accepted the Witkopf plan, Hamas insists on its refusal and has not moved an inch.”
Netanyahu’s office continued: “At the same time, it continues to engage in manipulation and psychological warfare,” adding: “Netanyahu will hold a meeting of the ministerial team tomorrow evening, Saturday, to receive a detailed report from the negotiation team and decide on the next steps.”
Earlier, Hamas said that the movement submitted its response to a proposal it received from mediators at dawn today, which included its agreement to release the “Zionist” soldier Aidan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four other dual-nationality individuals.
Hamas has always affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and the handover of prisoners, provided that the occupation adheres to it, while the families of the Israeli prisoners and the opposition accused Netanyahu of prioritizing his personal calculations over proceeding with the completion of the negotiations.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the proposal approved by Hamas is exactly what Trump’s envoy, Adam Boehler, tried to push for, which stipulates the release of Israeli prisoners holding American citizenship, whether alive or dead.
It also pointed out that Boehler’s proposal contradicts Israel’s position, which opposes discrimination between hostages based on their nationality, and opposes releasing deceased abductees before the living.
