Arab media claims Hamas fears possible joint US-Israeli ops. to free hostages in Gaza
The Hamas terrorist organization fears the possibility of a joint US-Israeli military operation to rescue hostages in the Gaza Strip, according to a Saturday report by Arabic-language source Asharq Al-Awsat.
The source reportedly learned from Hamas that the terror group implemented security measures to prevent attempts by Israeli forces or any others to access locations where hostages, alive or dead, are being kept.
Hamas terrorists were instructed to monitor any and all activity they deem suspicious and find out if anyone is collaborating with Israel, according to the report.
Other Hamas and Palestinian sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat stated that Hamas captors have been instructed to murder any living hostages if the IDF gets close. However, this order was reportedly revoked during the ceasefire that had taken effect in January of this year. It has since been reinstated, the report noted.
The report was published after the US and Israeli negotiating teams departed Qatar on Thursday, where US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that the terrorist organization showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."
"While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home," he said.
US, Israel considering alternative options to bring back hostages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that the two countries were looking for alternative options for bringing the hostages home.
Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Persons Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch said that the Israeli team's return from Qatar was intended to provide advice on how to narrow the gaps in the negotiations.
'In the face of many difficulties that Hamas has posed and is posing, we have continuously and resolutely exhausted every chance and possibility of reaching an agreement, and we will continue to do so," he said.
However, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that Israel still believes that Hamas is interested in a deal, 'but they're trying to squeeze every possible advantage, provoking and appeasing all the extremist factions within Gaza."
Hamas has resorted to delaying tactics, reintroducing previously resolved issues, and making "outlandish" demands, the officials added.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
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