With U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner joining talks in Egypt, Hamas has hardened its demands—seeking the release of Nukhba killers and slain commanders—while Israel vows no concessions till all hostages returned.
Hamas has escalated its demands in the Egypt-hosted ceasefire and hostage negotiations, now insisting on the release of the most notorious terrorists responsible for the October 7 massacres and the return of the bodies of slain Hamas commanders. The shift threatens to derail the delicate diplomatic effort led by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who arrived this week to push both sides toward agreement.
According to Israeli intelligence officials, Hamas has presented a list including senior terrorists such as Marwan Barghouti, Hassan Salameh, and Abbas al-Sayed, along with several captured members of the Nukhba Commando unit that carried out the attacks on Israeli communities. The organization also wants Israel to return the remains of its military chiefs, including commanders from Khan Younis and the family of Yahya Sinwar.
An Israeli security official said Hamas is “testing the limits of Israeli morality” and “trying to rewrite the concept of negotiation by glorifying murderers.” The new terms are viewed in Jerusalem as a provocation, encouraged by Iranian pressure and Hamas’ desire to project strength despite mounting losses in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu convened the War Cabinet late Tuesday night and reaffirmed Israel’s red lines: no release of those directly responsible for October 7, no return of the bodies of Hamas leaders before all hostages are home, and no end to military pressure until Hamas’ command structure collapses.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz called the demands “blackmail wrapped in cynicism,” while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel “will not trade the blood of its citizens for political theater.” Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, leading the negotiating team, has signaled cautious flexibility for humanitarian measures but emphasized that “no deal will include Nukhba killers.”
Israel is prepared to offer limited gestures—such as releasing non-violent detainees, women, minors, and the elderly—and to support a short humanitarian pause for aid convoys. The IDF would not, however, withdraw from key corridors or lift the naval blockade.
The arrival of Witkoff and Kushner underscores Washington’s growing involvement and the Trump team’s desire for a diplomatic breakthrough before the U.S. elections. A senior American official described their mission as “finding a narrow bridge between moral clarity and political necessity.” Yet even the U.S. delegation privately acknowledges that Hamas’ new list of demands could collapse the talks entirely.
Within Israel, public opinion remains firmly opposed to freeing mass murderers or returning terrorist remains before the hostages are released. Families of victims and reservist groups have staged demonstrations outside the Defense Ministry, demanding the government “stand firm against moral surrender.”
“Hamas wants the killers of our children freed and the bodies of their own terrorists glorified,” said Meirav Shor, whose brother was murdered at the Nova festival. “That will never bring peace—only more blood.”
As Egyptian and Qatari mediators prepare another proposal, Israeli analysts say the impasse reflects the fundamental clash between Hamas’ cult of martyrdom and Israel’s insistence on justice. The likely scenarios now range from a limited humanitarian deal to renewed IDF offensives to increase leverage.
A senior Israeli defense source summarized the position succinctly: “There can be compassion for civilians, but no amnesty for murderers. Our red lines are drawn in blood—and they will not be crossed.”
They can have their dead ones back AFTER they release all hostages, relinquish all weapons to IDF, and start packing to move out of Israel for good! No live ones, period!