There are also two unspoken reasons for the group’s decision.
Hamas officials are astute observers of Israeli politics and media; they took careful note of the furore caused by the emaciated condition of the three hostages released last weekend, which the hostage families forum likened to images of Holocaust survivors.
If the group is releasing the healthiest captives first, and the next to be freed are in even worse shape, Hamas commanders may be worried about pushing Israeli public opinion towards resuming hostilities in revenge for their treatment.
Secondly, Hamas is as vulnerable as the rest of the world to Donald Trump’s tendency to make up policy on the fly.
The militant group did not mention the president’s ill-considered proposal that the US "take over" and “develop” Gaza in its statement on Monday, but the president has essentially already torpedoed: 1. the next two phases of the ceasefire – an end to the war 2. and talks on future governance of the strip.
