Hamas' new bright idea: Full hostage release in exchange for this one little condition

Hamas announced today it is prepared to release all remaining Israeli hostages in a single exchange during the second phase of the Gaza truce, conditioning this offer on a "permanent ceasefire" and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

The proposal, coming amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, directly challenges Israel's stated war objectives of dismantling Hamas as both a governing and military force in Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim took to Telegram to firmly reject any possibility of the group's expulsion from Gaza or disarmament, insisting that Gaza's future arrangements must be based on national consensus.

In a notable development, Hamas has already agreed to accelerate the release of six hostages, originally scheduled over two weeks, to a single day this Saturday. According to Qasim, this decision came in response to mediators' requests. The move comes as the current ceasefire framework approaches its early March expiration date.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar indicated that talks to extend the initial six-week truce and secure the release of remaining hostages will commence in the coming days. The negotiations continue to be overseen by the United States and brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

Qasim dismissed Israel's objective to expel Hamas from Gaza as "silly psychological warfare." However, in what appears to be a slight shift in position, he stated on Monday that Hamas would be willing to cede power in the war-ravaged territory if such a move would benefit Gaza's residents.

The ongoing negotiations take place against the backdrop of widespread destruction in Gaza, where tent camps have become a common sight among the rubble of destroyed buildings, particularly in northern areas like Jabalia.

These developments mark a critical juncture in the conflict, as both sides maneuver for position in negotiations while maintaining their core demands: Hamas's insistence on remaining in Gaza and Israel's determination to remove the group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and many other nations.

Bloomberg contributed to this article.