Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
22 February 2025 | 20:00 CAT
2 min read

Hamas is moving swiftly to complete the first phase of its prisoner exchange deal while simultaneously offering a second phase to pre-empt Donald Trump’s resettlement plan and increase pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dr James Dorsey, on the Middle East Report on Radio Islam, explained that the militant group initially agreed to accelerate the release of hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement. “So, you saw on Thursday, the release of the first four bodies of the remains of Israeli hostages. In the first phase, there are four more bodies to be released, and Saturday, six still-alive Israeli hostages are scheduled for release,” he said.

Hamas has now indicated that in the second phase of the ceasefire—terms of which are yet to be negotiated—it is prepared to release all remaining hostages in one exchange. “There are 59 of them, 35 of whom are presumed to be dead, in one go in exchange for an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip,” Dorsey explained.

Dorsey highlighted a case of mistaken identity. Complications arose when the first four bodies were returned in a ceremony featuring plaques on the coffins suggesting the individuals had been arrested rather than kidnapped, along with slogans blaming Israel for their deaths. While it remains unclear how these hostages died, but the situation was further muddled when one of the bodies turned out to be misidentified. “It now turns out that one of the four bodies that was returned yesterday, the body of Shiraz Bivas, was not the body of Shiraz Bivas. It is not clear whose body it is because, according to the Israelis, it does not match the DNA of any of the Israeli hostages,” he revealed.

Israel and Hamas dig in their heels

As the ceasefire negotiations progress, both sides appear to be hardening their positions. “Hamas has, on the one hand, said that it was willing to cede participation in a postwar administration of Gaza, but that it would not disarm,” said Dorsey.

Adding further complexity, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan suggested in an Al Jazeera forum that it should be countries like Iran and Turkey—rather than the UAE or Saudi Arabia—that form an interim administration and contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza. “At the same time, you now have the Israelis, after Thursday’s debacle, potentially calling off the whole thing,” he said.

Arab leaders seek alternative to Trump’s plan

With Arab leaders meeting in Riyadh this weekend and preparing for further discussions in Cairo next month, efforts are underway to propose an alternative to Trump’s resettlement plan for Palestinians.

The Arab summit has already been postponed. The meeting in Cairo that is now scheduled for March 4 instead of February 27.

According to Dorsey, the UAE has emerged as the United States’ and Israel’s most reliable Arab ally. “The UAE has clearly said that it rejects resettlement of the Palestinians outside of Gaza as proposed by US President Trump, but it has also said that at this point, it’s the only proposal on the table,” he added.

The key question remains: what alternative will Arab leaders present? “Particularly in Friday’s summit in Riyadh, where Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are represented,” he said.

As regional powers strategise, the Palestinian leadership remains deeply fractured. Qatar is attempting to mediate between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, but with little success. “Palestinians are at a crossroads,” Dorsey emphasised. He explained that Gaza has been devastated. Talk of expulsion, ethnic cleansing has become legitimate. “The administration of Gaza at this point is up for grabs. This is a moment at which you need a unified Palestinian leadership,” he added.

As the region braces for the next developments, the question of Gaza’s future remains unresolved, with multiple players vying for control over its postwar governance.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Dr James M. Dorsey, an Award-winning scholar & journalist, here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. James M. Dorsey is an award-winning journalist, scholar, and Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute. He is the author of ‘The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer’.