The Palestinian militant group will launch the final American hostage to facilitate ceasefire talks
Hamas has agreed to launch Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier and the final identified residing US hostage held in Gaza, following negotiations with the US, President Donald Trump has introduced.
Alexander was kidnapped throughout the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the seize of roughly 250 hostages. In a press release on Sunday, Hamas stated that Alexander can be launched “as a part of efforts in direction of a ceasefire” and to facilitate the supply of humanitarian support into Gaza.
“I’m comfortable to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming house to his household,” Trump wrote on Fact Social, expressing gratitude to “all these concerned,” with out mentioning Israel.
“This was a step taken in good religion towards the US and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to place an finish to this very brutal battle and return ALL residing hostages and stays to their family members,” he added.
Trump’s particular envoy, Steve Witkoff, is predicted to reach in Israel to supervise the discharge.
“We’re choosing him up in all probability tomorrow,” Witkoff advised NBC Information on Sunday. “There was a protracted negotiation with numerous individuals to thank,” he stated, noting that the gesture of goodwill grew to become doable “largely” due to Trump.
The most recent spherical of negotiations in Doha, carried out largely with out Israel’s involvement, was facilitated via oblique talks between Hamas and the US, mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Each mediators praised the event as “a gesture of goodwill and a constructive step towards resuming negotiations aimed toward reaching a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli forces resumed their offensive in Gaza in March following the collapse of a earlier ceasefire – which Trump additionally claimed credit score for. Israel accused Hamas of refusing to launch the remaining 24 hostages believed to be alive, whereas Hamas blamed West Jerusalem for stalling talks aimed toward ending a battle that has claimed greater than 50,000 Palestinian lives, most of them civilians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just lately introduced that the nation’s safety cupboard had permitted a brand new “forceful” plan to destroy Hamas, including that Gaza’s inhabitants “shall be moved, to guard it.” In keeping with the United Nations Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli forces have already restricted entry to 70 % of Gaza via no-go zones and compelled displacement orders.
In February, Trump advocated for the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to international locations reminiscent of Jordan and Egypt, arguing that it will allow the enclave’s transformation right into a resort vacation spot. Netanyahu referred to as it a “exceptional concept” that must be “pursued.”
