Washington accuses Hamas of “a very bad bet” and threatens to “respond to what is appropriate” – the seventh day

The White House accused Hamas, on Friday, of raising the “non-practical” demands and procrastinating in reaching an agreement to release an American-Israeli hostage, in exchange for extending the ceasefire in Gaza.

A statement issued by the office of President Donald Trump, Steve Whitkov, stated that “Hamas is making a very bad proof that the time is in its favor, and it is not so,” adding that the United States “will respond to what is appropriate” if Hamas does not abide by the deadline.

The statement added, “Hamas is fully aware of the deadline, and it must know that we will respond in proportion to if this date has passed,” noting that Trump had already pledged that Hamas “would pay a heavy price” because the hostage was not released.

Earlier on Friday, Hamas announced that it was ready to release an Israeli -American hostage and the deems of four others, after the indirect ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.

In Qatar, Witkeov presented a “bridge” proposal to extend the first stage of the truce until mid -April, in the event that Hamas released hostages of neighborhoods in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The statement stated: “Hamas was categorically informed of the necessity of implementing this bridge soon and the release of the American -Israeli citizen Idan Alexander, immediately.”

“Unfortunately, Hamas chose to respond publicly with the claim of flexibility, while secretly submitted insecurity without a permanent ceasefire.”

The first stage of the 42 -day armistice agreement ended in early March without reaching an agreement in the subsequent stages aimed at ensuring a permanent end of the war that erupted after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel also sent a team of negotiators to hold talks aimed at extending the ceasefire.

For his part, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio in Canada stressed in response to whether the United States gives priority to the release of the American hostage, “We care about all hostages.”

“We are behaving as if this is a normal exchange, as if it is a natural thing happens. This is disgraceful. So they should all be released,” Rubio told reporters after the Group of Seven talks in Canada.

He continued, “I will not comment on what we will accept and what we will not accept, except that we must all – the whole world – to continue to say that what Hamas did is a heinous matter, it is ridiculous, it is disgusting, it is disgusting.”

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