Edan Alexander. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump poses for photos with family members of Edan Alexander, a hostage held by Hamas, after visiting the gravesite of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo
Hamas has hit back after the United States criticized its demands over extending the ceasefire in Gaza, saying the Americans should focus on pressuring Israel.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
Tensions are growing between the United States and Hamas after the group said the release of further hostages captured during the attack of October 7, 2023, is conditional on meeting its demands over a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Hamas "there will be hell to pay" if the hostages are not freed. Among them is an American-Israeli hostage, Edan Alexander.
What To Know
A senior Hamas official condemned Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid on Gaza and urged the United States to compel Israel to abide by their ceasefire agreement, deeming it as the "only way to protect the lives of hostages."
After having initially agreed to free Alexander and return the remains of four other hostages with dual citizenship on Friday, Hamas said this would be conditional on its demands and urged the U.S. administration to push Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire.
U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff warned Hamas to become "much more sensible" and said its demands were totally unacceptable.
The U.S. plan, to which Israel agrees, seeks to restore humanitarian aid and release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. But Hamas wants a broader deal which includes a lasting ceasefire agreement.
Witkoff did not go into the details of the rejected Hamas demands. Those include full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and opening borders for aid, trade, and reconstruction supplies, according to media reports.
What People Are Saying
Hamas Political Bureau Member Izzat al-Rishq: "The United States must compel the occupation to uphold the ceasefire agreement as signed, rather than expanding the cycle of violence. Pressuring the occupation and preventing it from evading the agreement's requirements is the only way to protect the lives of the captives and ensure their safe return to their families."
U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking to CNN: "The Hamas proposal is a non-starter. We spent a good deal of time talking about a bridge proposal that would see the release of five alive hostages that include Edan Alexander, and also by the way see the release of a substantial amount of prisoners held in Israeli jails, which would be a wonderful thing for these Palestinian families. I thought the proposal was compelling. The Israelis were informed about it, and advised about it beforehand. After waiting for two or three days from Hamas, we got a non-acceptable response. I think there's an opportunity for them but the opportunity is closing fast."
Non-Resident Fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs Mouni Rabbani to Newsweek: "Just because they talked, neither means that the Americans accepted Hamas' demands, or that Hamas accepted the American demands. There was direct engagement for a very specific purpose. That certainly doesn't mean that the U.S. sees Hamas as their primary counterparts in this issue. So the leverage they have is that they're actually there and in control on the ground and that they still hold these captives and the remaining captives."
What Happens Next
As discussions continue, Israel has renewed air strikes against alleged militants it said were threatening its security, raising the prospects of a return to all-out war. Meanwhile, the U.N. is warning of starvation in Gaza.
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This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 9:56 AM.