Rubio: We have not received any proposal from Hamas for a ceasefire and we reject 'piecemeal deals' for prisoners
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied today, Tuesday, that his administration has received any official proposal from Hamas to ensure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for 60 days in exchange for the release of half of the detained prisoners, affirming Washington's initial rejection of such proposals.
This came during an interview with Rubio on "Fox News," where he said: "We have not seen the message, we do not have it, even if we were to see it, it would mean nothing." He further clarified the U.S. position: "The president (Donald Trump) has already made it clear that he is not interested in a 60-day truce and the release of ten people; he wants the release of all 48 prisoners, including 20 alive and 28 dead. He wants everyone released."
This statement comes hours after sources in the U.S. administration revealed, according to the same channel, that Hamas sent a message to President Trump personally, asking him to "guarantee a ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days in exchange for the immediate release of half of the prisoners." The sources indicated that the message is expected to be delivered to the White House this week.
In connection with the crisis, official Israeli information continues to confirm the existence of 48 prisoners held in Gaza, "and it is believed that at least 20 of them are alive."
In parallel with these diplomatic developments, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video on Monday of an Israeli prisoner held in Gaza who also holds German citizenship, named Alon Ohel (24 years old).
The video, which displayed translated text in Arabic, shows the prisoner wearing a black shirt and watching a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a television screen. Ohel addresses the Israeli people and army in Hebrew, saying: "What is this, O people of Israel and O army of Israel, does anyone still believe Netanyahu?".
The prisoner urged his family to continue pressuring the Israeli government, warning in his speech: "These are our last days, Israeli prisoners have become a burden on this government, they will kill us."
