Hamas agrees to release a US-Israeli hostage and the bodies of 4 other dual nationals

The occupation has committed a horrific massacre in the northern Gaza Strip by targeting a group of journalists and humanitarian workers, in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement

This heinous crime comes in the context of the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists,

a Palestinian Journalists Syndicate statement said

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an in-depth discussion this evening on the issue of the hostages, with the participation of the negotiating team and the heads of the security establishment.

In a statement on X, his office said

You want to sacrifice our children for the pleasures of power,

said Itzik Horn, father of hostage Eitan and freed hostage Iair

President Trump has made it clear that Hamas will either release hostages immediately, or pay a severe price."

The U.S. officials have ratcheted up the pressure on the terrorists, saying

We want to solidify the ceasefire agreement and force (Israel) to implement its terms,

Abdul Latif al-Qanou told AFP, accusing Israel of "delaying" its enforcement

The ball is in Israel's court,

a Hamas spokesman said

We are working with mediators for the agreement to succeed and to compel the occupation to conclude all phases of the agreement,

Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua, the Hamas spokesperson, told Reuters

Hamas' approval to release Edan Alexander aims to push towards the conclusion of the phases of the agreement,

said Qanoua

Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility, ... while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire."

Witkoff said in the statement

Marco RubiouS Secretary of State

We're acting like this is a normal exchange, this is a normal thing that happens. This is an outrage. So they should all be released,

Rubio told reporters after Group of Seven talks in Canada

Donald Trumppresident

Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not,

a statement from the office of President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and the US National Security Council said

Marco RubiouS Secretary of State

We care about all the hostages."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked if the United States was prioritizing the release of the American hostage, said

Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this 'bridge' would have to be implemented soon -- and that dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately,

the statement said

Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes,

it said

I'm not going to comment on what we're going to accept and not accept, other than that all of us -- the whole world -- should continue to say that what Hamas has done is outrageous, it's ridiculous, it's sick, it's disgusting,

he said

The conditions are extremely difficult,

said Yousef Badreen, a Palestinian who left the southern West Bank city of Hebron at dawn to make it to Jerusalem

At the same time, it continues to use manipulation and psychological warfare - the reports about Hamas' willingness to release American hostages are intended to sabotage the negotiations,

read a letter from the government to hostage families

Without a comprehensive deal, we risk sealing the fate of all remaining hostages,

the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement

Meetings are continuing with mediators in Doha. We adhere to what was agreed upon and to entering into the second phase,

Qassem said