The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced its approval in principle to release all Israeli captives — living and deceased — under a proposal advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump, provided it ends the war, secures withdrawal, and creates field conditions for a swap.
In its statement, Hamas expressed immediate readiness to enter mediated negotiations to discuss all implementation details.
Negotiations and the Captives
Analysts speaking to Al Jazeera over the past two days argue Hamas’s response defused an escalating crisis and avoided the trap embedded in Trump’s plan. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted Trump’s framework, it aimed to strip the resistance of the “captives card” without a full ceasefire and complete withdrawal. Hamas’s move, however, pulled all parties back to the negotiating table, with Egypt announcing talks in Sharm el-Sheikh tomorrow (Monday).
By accepting negotiations linked to a comprehensive ceasefire, Hamas has placed Netanyahu face to face with the families of the captives and Israeli public opinion — and before a global audience — on a stark choice: if you want the captives, you must stop the war.
Still, key questions arise about the negotiating tactic behind Hamas’s willingness to release everyone:
- What leverage remains if the captives are all handed over?
- What guarantees are there against Israel resuming the assault on Gaza?
- How does one negotiate with an adversary that, as observers say, “is prepared to shoot the negotiating delegation itself”?
The Reality on the Ground is Extremely Complex
Conditions in Gaza are far more complicated than conference-room timelines suggest. We are speaking of dozens of captives, living and deceased, dispersed across multiple areas of a Strip that has seen near-total destruction, with Israeli forces deployed widely.
This implies that some captives may be located in areas under Israeli control. Hence Hamas’s requirement for military withdrawal from specific zones so that its cadres can communicate freely with Shadow Units of Al-Qassam Brigades — those tasked with guarding and protecting captives — and organise safe transfers.
Sources told Al Jazeera Net that some captives are likely in tunnels as deep as 50 metres underground. Sections of these tunnels — or nearby buildings — have partially collapsed, leaving tons of rubble overhead. Heavy excavation machinery and bulldozers — largely unavailable in Gaza — would be needed, likely requiring entry from outside the Strip.
Al-Qassam has also announced multiple times that contact was lost with certain units guarding captives, necessitating intensive, complex search operations to re-establish communication and arrange handover.
In a more complex scenario, sources noted that some guardians may have been martyred in Israeli strikes, implying that some captives may also have been killed. Locating and retrieving the deceased would require exceptional search and verification efforts.
Practical Requirements Arising from These Realities
- Mandatory ceasefire throughout the search and recovery period.
- Israeli military withdrawal from large swathes to allow operations — a demand that clashes with Netanyahu’s insistence that forces “will not leave the Strip” before achieving the war’s objectives, risking renewed escalation. Should that occur, it will be clear to all that Netanyahu and the far-right bear responsibility.
- Time: Sources estimate weeks — perhaps months — are required, even if resources were available. This directly contradicts Netanyahu’s assertion that negotiations would take only “days”.
Bottom line: Releasing all captives immediately under Trump’s formula is not operationally realistic. The process requires weeks at minimum, forming — according to observers — the backbone of Hamas’s strategy and the likely trajectory of the Sharm el-Sheikh talks.
The Trump–Netanyahu Contradiction
Hamas is leveraging the divergent incentives of the two leaders:
- Netanyahu seeks to continue the war and, if paused, to resume it quickly.
- Trump seeks the fastest possible captive release — with an eye, as reported, on the December Nobel ceremony.
Both sides may be forced to negotiate additional details within Trump’s plan while captives are located and retrieved — potentially including withdrawals from parts of Gaza and de-escalation measures, driven by pressure from captive families.
At present, Washington’s priority, as framed in the proposal, appears narrowed to retrieving captives, halting the war, and ensuring Israeli withdrawal — with other regional linkages receding from immediate focus.
The Resistance’s Sources of Strength
The resistance’s strength rests on the steadfastness of Gaza’s people, their alignment with the movement, and their conviction that the resistance stands with them and acts according to their aspirations.
Hamas also reads positively the Arab welcome of its response and the international calls for the war to end.
Inside Israel, captive families and the domestic opposition exert continuous pressure on Netanyahu not to restart the war — especially amid Israel’s deepening internal crisis.
Why a “Push-Button” Release Is Impossible
- Geography & control: Captives are scattered, with some in areas held by Israeli forces.
- Infrastructure damage: Collapsed tunnels and buildings require heavy equipment not currently available inside Gaza.
- Command & communication: Broken lines with several guarding units necessitate time-consuming search and coordination.
- Casualties: The martyrdom of guardians (and possible deaths among captives) demands meticulous recovery and verification.
- Security guarantees: A sustained ceasefire and withdrawals are essential; without them, safe transfer is unworkable.
Therefore: A sequenced, negotiated process under verified ceasefire and field access is the only realistic path.
