Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk asserted that it could take “months” for the group to locate all hostages, living and deceased—a claim Israeli officials flatly reject. A Jerusalem official said Hamas knows the whereabouts of every living captive and can access them, insisting that any delay amounts to a negotiating tactic rather than a logistical challenge. The remarks come as mediators move to finalize a framework that envisions a single-phase release within 72 hours of signing.
Israeli assessments cited by local media anticipate Hamas will seek more time for the return of bodies, even as it is required to free living hostages without delay. The timeline sensitivity is compounded by the deal’s insistence on continued IDF presence in controlling areas, undercutting Hamas’s ability to regroup or hide behind civilian infrastructure. Whether Hamas ultimately complies—and how verification will work—remain open questions.
The competing narratives underscore why negotiators are racing to harden enforcement mechanisms. Israeli officials argue that ambiguity only invites stalling; Hamas leaders are signaling they want leverage to shape sequencing. Any agreement will likely hinge on bridging that gap without sacrificing core red lines on immediate humanitarian release.
(INN/VFI News)
