(JNS) An Israeli government spokesperson reiterated to JNS on Tuesday, Nov. 12 that Hamas remains the main impediment to securing the release of the 101 men, women and children who have been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“It is Hamas who keeps throwing in conditions that are unreasonable and impossible, and it is Hamas that has delayed the negotiations and the release of our people,” David Mencer told JNS in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“Every moment that hostages are being held is a war crime and a humanitarian crime, and Hamas needs to release them now,” he added.

Mencer stressed that returning the captives remains the highest priority of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

“The Israeli government and the prime minister have said that the release of hostages—all 101 of them—held for more than 400 days by Hamas in the dungeons of Gaza is their highest priority,” he said.

On Nov. 5, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu presented a proposal that would see Jerusalem pay “several million dollars” for each hostage in exchange for safe passage abroad for the captors and their families.

“Israel will leave no stone unturned; we will go everywhere and do everything to get them out alive and get the bodies of the deceased for decent burial. It is Hamas who is holding them, refuses to release them, and is responsible for their continued captivity,” he added.

On Sunday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan echoed these statements, saying on CBS’s “Face the Nation” news analysis show: “What I will tell you is, whatever Hamas is saying publicly, what they are communicating to the mediators is no, we will not do a ceasefire and hostage deal at this time.

“So what we need to do is get the rest of the world to continue to increase pressure on Hamas to come to the table, to do a deal in Gaza, because the Israeli government has said it’s prepared to take a temporary step in that direction.”