NNA - The White House accused Hamas on Friday of raising "completely impractical" demands and stalling on reaching an agreement to release an American-Israeli hostage in exchange for extending the ceasefire in Gaza.

A statement from the office of President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said, "Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side, which it is not," adding that the United States will "respond proportionately" if Hamas does not meet the deadline.

The statement added: "Hamas is fully aware of the deadline and must know that we will respond proportionately if it passes," noting that Trump had already pledged that Hamas would "pay a heavy price" for not releasing the hostages.

Hamas had announced earlier that it was prepared to release an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, following the resumption of indirect ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.

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