Hamas specifies conditions for releasing U.S. hostage, delivering hostage bodies

CAIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas movement has stipulated that the release of an Israeli prisoner with U.S. citizenship and the delivery of the bodies of four other hostages is contingent upon the opening of the Rafah Crossing, the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and an extension of the ceasefire for approximately two months.

The conditions were proposed by a Hamas delegation that arrived in Cairo on Friday for negotiation, an informed Egyptian source confirmed to Xinhua Saturday.

The source added that Hamas also required a direct transition to the negotiations of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which entails a permanent cessation of hostilities.

The Egyptian side conveyed Hamas's conditions to the Israeli side and is awaiting a response, the source said.

On Friday, Hamas announced that a negotiating delegation had headed to Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials and follow up on developments in the negotiations and the ceasefire agreement.

A three-phase Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, took effect on Jan. 19. However, negotiations for the second phase remain stalled after the initial 42-day phase expired on March 1.

Since March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, Israel has blocked aid and food shipments from entering Gaza. ■