Demonstrators raise cutout portraits of Israeli captives during a protest in Tel Aviv calling for the implementation of the second phase and the completion of the ceasefire agreement for the release of all captives held in Gaza. AFP
The first phase of the truce, which began in January, ended on March 1 without agreement on next steps. A Hamas official said negotiations began in Doha on Tuesday.
"The ball is in Israel's court," a Hamas spokesman said. "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.
A Hamas political bureau member, speaking anonymously, told AFP the proposal to release 21-year-old soldier Edan Alexander and return the bodies of four other Israeli-American held in Gaza was part of a "unique agreement".
In exchange, Israel would free Palestinian detainees, with the number still under negotiation, the official said.
The official said the proposed exchange was conditioned with simultaneously starting negotiations for the implementation of the truce's second phase, with the talks ending within a 50-day period, he said.
The proposal also called for the immediate opening of all border crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Philadelphi corridor, he added.
Earlier Friday, Hamas emphasized in a statement its “full readiness” to begin talks and reach a comprehensive agreement on issues surrounding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement it has with Israel.
The group also called on Israel to hold responsibility, stating, “We call for the occupation to be held to its full commitments, ” as it renewed its deadly blockade on the Gaza Strip on 2 March, followed by cutting off the territory’s electricity supply.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that he would meet late Saturday with several ministers "to receive a detailed report from the negotiation team and decide next steps towards freeing the hostages".
The White House on Friday claimed Hamas is making "impractical" demands and "making a very bad bet that time is on its side".
During the truce's initial six-week phase which came into effect on January 19, Hamas released 33 captives, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.
Hamas, who accused Israel on Monday of reneging on the Gaza ceasefire agreement, previously said that Israel's indiscriminate bombing of the strip threatens the lives of both Palestinians and captives alike.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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