US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff warned Hamas on Friday that his country will respond "appropriately" if the Palestinian terrorist group does not respect the deadlines agreed upon in negotiations to end the conflict with Israel.
"Hamas is betting that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is fully aware of the deadline and must know that we will respond accordingly if it is missed," he said in a statement released by the White House.
Hamas confirmed this Friday that it had agreed to resume indirect negotiations with Israel and expressed its willingness to release dual US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, as well as the bodies of four other hostages, in the second phase.
According to sources cited anonymously by the Israeli press on Thursday, the proposal backed by Witkoff included the release of five live hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which negotiations would be held on the continuation of the agreement.
The US statement recalled that the "bridge" proposal was presented Wednesday night in Doha to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, thus gaining time to negotiate a framework for a permanent cessation of hostilities.
"Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was told, in no uncertain terms, that this 'bridge' would have to be implemented soon and that Edan Alexander, an American and Israeli citizen, should be released immediately," he added.
The note highlighted that US President Donald Trump has made it clear that Hamas "will pay a heavy price" if it does not release the hostages "immediately."
"Unfortunately, Hamas has decided to respond by publicly asserting its flexibility and privately formulating demands that are completely impractical without a permanent ceasefire," Washington said.