Hamas anticipates US-Israeli operation to free hostages – report

Hamas has reinstated the policy, revoked during the temporary truce and hostage release in January, of murdering any hostages the IDF is preparing to rescue.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Hamas fears and is making preparations for a possible joint U.S.-Israeli operation to liberate the hostages, according to Arab news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat.

An Arab source reported that Hamas is making preparations for such an operation and is working to conceal the locations of the hostages and details about their captivity.

The terrorist group is monitoring any activity it deems suspicious and is on the lookout for Gazans who may be collaborating with the U.S. or Israelis.

Hamas has reinstated the policy, revoked during the temporary truce and hostage release in January, of murdering any hostages the IDF is preparing to rescue.

The report was released on Thursday, when U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Hamas showed “a lack of desire to reach a cease-fire.”

“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,” he said.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over the impasse the hostage negotiations have reached and blamed Hamas for the lack of an agreement.

“It was too bad—Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think they want to die. And it’s very, very bad. It got to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job.”

“Don’t forget, we got a lot of hostages out,” he continued. “So now we’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages. And basically because of that, they really didn’t want to make a deal. I saw that.”

Referring to Israel, Trump said, “So they pulled out [of the negotiations], and they’re going to have to fight. They’re going to have to clean it up. They’re going to have to get rid of [Hamas].”

On Thursday, Witkoff reported that the Trump administration would explore “alternative options” to bring home the captives, as Hamas “does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.”