Varda Ben Baruch holds a photograph of her grandson Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander throughout a rally of households of hostages held within the Gaza Strip on April 20 in Nir Oz, Israel.
Amir Levy/Getty Photographs
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Amir Levy/Getty Photographs
TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas says it would launch Israeli American Edan Alexander from Gaza as a step towards reaching a ceasefire settlement with Israel, in response to an announcement on the militant group’s Telegram channel.
Alexander is a 21-year-old Israeli soldier with twin U.S.-Israeli citizenship who was captured whereas on responsibility within the Hamas-led assaults on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. He’s the final remaining American citizen held by Hamas in Gaza who’s believed to nonetheless be alive. The our bodies of 4 different People are nonetheless held in Gaza, in response to the U.S.
Within the assertion, Hamas mentioned it had been holding secret talks with the U.S. for the final a number of days, and that Alexander “shall be launched as a part of the steps taken to determine a ceasefire.” It mentioned his launch would come as a part of ceasefire efforts to open Gaza’s border crossings and produce support to Gaza after greater than 10 weeks of an Israeli blockade that worldwide humanitarian teams say is driving rampant starvation within the territory.
President Trump took to social media on Sunday to substantiate the settlement with Hamas on Alexander’s launch, saying that it was made to “put an finish to this very brutal conflict and return ALL dwelling hostages and stays to their family members.”
Israeli officers haven’t but commented publicly on whether or not they had been conscious of the talks, however an announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned the U.S. had “knowledgeable Israel of Hamas’s intention to launch soldier Edan Alexander as a goodwill gesture to the People, with none circumstances or compensation.” It mentioned Israel is “getting ready for the likelihood” of his launch.
Earlier this 12 months, each Hamas and the U.S. confirmed that the 2 events had been holding direct talks beginning as early as January — in a serious shift in American coverage, because the U.S. had not engaged immediately with Hamas because it designated it a terrorist group in 1997. It has been a long-standing U.S. coverage to not negotiate with teams it designates as terrorists.
Qatar and Egypt — two nations who’ve performed key roles in negotiation efforts between Israel and Hamas all through the conflict, together with the U.S. — issued a joint announcement welcoming the discharge of Alexander, calling it a “encouraging step” towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
The announcement about Alexander’s potential launch comes shortly earlier than Trump departs for the area to go to Arab allies within the Gulf on Monday, in his first abroad journey throughout his second time period. He isn’t anticipated to go to Israel, however is anticipated to debate the way forward for Gaza with Arab leaders.
Hamas has not but mentioned when Alexander can be launched, though Steve Witkoff, Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East, informed NBC information on Sunday that he’s touring to Israel, and “selecting him up in all probability tomorrow.” He mentioned the discharge was taking place largely due to President Trump. Witkoff’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to NPR’s request for remark.
There are 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, together with Alexander, greater than half of whom are believed to be useless, in response to Israel. Hamas had launched 38 hostages in change for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel beneath a ceasefire deal that started on Jan. 19. However Israel’s army broke that ceasefire in March, after negotiations between the 2 events failed to provide an extension of the truce.
Israel has since gained management of a few third of Gaza’s territory, and has imposed a whole blockade whereas persevering with a lethal and harmful air marketing campaign all through. Earlier this month it mentioned it deliberate to increase its offensive there.
Gaza well being authorities say greater than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli assaults on the territory because the begin of the conflict in October 2023. About 1,200 individuals in Israel had been killed within the Hamas-led assaults that month and a few 250 individuals had been taken hostage, in response to Israel.
Kat Lonsdorf reported from Washington, D.C., and Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv. Itay Stern contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Ahmed Abuhamda contributed from Cairo and Nuha Musleh from Ramallah.
