The Trump administration has rejected Hamas’s demands for releasing hostages and extending the Gaza ceasefire. In a statement, the office of Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the US national security council said that Hamas is “making a very bad bet” by stalling on a deal.
Hamas had offered to release Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage taken during a surprise raid into Israel in October 2023, but the US has declined. The administration says Hamas’s demands are “entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire.”
The US had presented a “bridge” proposal to extend the first phase of the truce to mid-April if Hamas releases living hostages. However, Hamas is refusing to budge from its positions.
Israel has called for an extension of several weeks to the current phase instead of moving forward with the second phase, which could lead to a new offensive in the months to come.
The Israeli government sees the US decision as a relief, while negotiations between the US and Hamas are expected to resume soon.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/14/hamas-says-it-will-free-israeli-us-hostage-in-potential-breakthrough-in-ceasefire-talks