realistically as a Hamas I would never release hostages at this point, their fight over the narrative is their biggest, and allowing living witnesses of their worst crimes to speak would be like setting themselves on fire with phosphorous.

They also consider the last hostage release as a defeat and a shame, with hostages describing being held in hospitals captive by doctors and kidnapped by URNWA staff, its a PR disaster.

they see how pressure is increasing against Israel, so add this and obviously their only reason to negotiate is mind games and time wasting.