Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire

Hamas says it can launch Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who’s believed to be the final residing captive with US nationality in Gaza, as part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire settlement.

The choice comes forward of President Donald Trump’s go to to the Center East on Tuesday. Hamas stated it was additionally supposed to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian help. Gaza has been beneath an Israeli blockade for 70 days.

Earlier a senior Hamas official advised the BBC that the Palestinian armed group was holding direct negotiations with a US administration official in Qatar.

The Israeli prime minister’s workplace stated it had been knowledgeable by the US of the Hamas intention to launch Alexander.

A senior Palestinian official conversant in the negotiations advised the BBC that Hamas’s announcement was supposed as a goodwill gesture earlier than Trump’s arrival.

He stated one other assembly between Hamas and the mediators was scheduled for early Monday morning to finalise the method of Edan’s launch, which might require a short lived halt to Israeli navy exercise and a suspension of aerial operations throughout the handover.

President Trump confirmed Alexander’s launch in a put up on Reality Social, calling it “monumental news” and “a step taken in good faith”.

Born in Tel Aviv however raised in New Jersey, 21-year-old Alexander was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants throughout the 7 October assault.

Of the 251 hostages taken throughout Hamas’s 2023 assault, 59 stay within the enclave, as much as 24 of whom are believed to be alive. 5 of the hostages in Gaza are believed to be US residents and Alexander was regarded as the one one nonetheless alive.

In its assertion, Hamas stated the discharge was a part of efforts to realize a ceasefire and permit meals, drugs and different provides into Gaza – which has been beneath an entire blockade by Israel for 70 days. The group stated it needed to achieve a last settlement to finish the warfare.

The Israeli prime minister’s workplace stated in a press release that it had been knowledgeable by the US of the Hamas intention to launch Alexander “as a gesture towards the Americans” and that the transfer was anticipated to result in negotiations on additional hostages.

Israel’s coverage was that negotiations can be carried out “under fire, based on the commitment to achieve all of the objectives of the war”, it added.

The Households and Lacking Households Discussion board marketing campaign group stated Alexander’s launch “must mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that will secure the freedom of all remaining hostages”.

They stated President Trump had “given the families of all the hostages hope” and urged Netanyahu to now “bring everyone back”.

Hamas has up to now stated it can solely comply with a deal that features the tip of the warfare, one thing that has been repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The talks between Hamas and the US are going down amid a number of studies suggesting rising frustration within the Trump administration with Netanyahu’s place. The prime minister can also be beneath stress at dwelling, with many accusing him of prolonging the warfare for political functions.

President Donald Trump arrives within the Center East on Tuesday, and Israel has vowed to develop its navy offensive in opposition to Hamas if no deal is reached by the tip of his go to.

Israeli officers have stated the plans for his or her expanded offensive embody seizing the entire territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking up help distribution with non-public corporations regardless of opposition from the UN and its humanitarian companions, who say they won’t co-operate as a result of it seems to “weaponise” help.

Israel has already blocked the entry of all meals, medicine and different humanitarian provides into Gaza for 70 days, which help businesses say quantities to a coverage of hunger and might be a warfare crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and different navy operations there in mid-March, which have since killed 2,720 Palestinians in response to the Hamas-run well being ministry.

Because the starting of the 12 months, in response to the UN, about 10,000 instances of acute malnutrition amongst kids have been recognized. Meals costs have rocketed by as a lot as 1,400%.

The warfare was triggered by the Hamas-led assaults on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which noticed about 1,200 individuals killed and greater than 250 taken hostage. Some 59 are nonetheless held captive, as much as 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Israel’s navy marketing campaign has killed 52,829 individuals in Gaza, in response to the Hamas-run well being ministry.