Hamas Announces Military Exercise Coinciding with Potential Prisoner Exchange

Hamas announced a military exercise on Friday, March 14, 2025, coinciding with the potential launch of an Israeli-American prisoner exchange deal involving the release of forty Palestinian prisoners. The exercise occurs amid discussions in Doha aimed at resuming negotiations for a ceasefire between both parties. Hamas stated it had submitted its response to mediators regarding the proposal and is committed to its stance, aligning the exercise with the anniversary of the "Sword of Jerusalem" operation. Israel commented that Hamas's exercise "is not conducive to progress" in negotiations. Hamas seeks more stringent terms for a ceasefire, potentially impacting ongoing discussions.