WASHINGTON – The United States government has issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that it will respond “accordingly” if the Palestinian Islamist group fails to adhere to the agreed timelines in negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict with Israel.
The warning came from a senior U.S. official overseeing Middle Eastern affairs.
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In a statement released by the White House, officials emphasized, “Hamas is betting that time is on their side. That is not the case. Hamas is fully aware of the deadline and must understand that we will respond accordingly if it is not met.”
Hamas confirmed on Friday that it has agreed to resume indirect negotiations with Israel, expressing willingness to release the bodies of four hostages in the next phase, following the release of Edan Alexander.
The proposal being considered included the release of five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which further negotiations would occur regarding the continuation of the agreement.
Additionally, it was noted that a “bridge” proposal was presented in Doha on Wednesday night to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Easter, allowing time for negotiations toward a permanent cessation of hostilities.
“Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was clearly informed that this ‘bridge’ must be implemented soon and that Edan Alexander, an American and Israeli citizen, should be released immediately,” the statement concluded.
