Gaza correspondent
Center East correspondent
Getty PicturesHamas says it should launch Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as part of efforts to succeed in a ceasefire settlement in Gaza.
The 21-year-old soldier is the final dwelling hostage with US nationality being held within the territory.
It comes after a senior Hamas official advised the BBC that the Palestinian armed group was holding direct negotiations with a US administration official in Qatar. The official mentioned talks had been ongoing for a number of days and have been targeted on securing a truce and facilitating the entry of humanitarian assist.
The Israeli prime minister’s workplace mentioned it had been knowledgeable by the US of the Hamas intention to launch Alexander.
A senior Palestinian official accustomed to the negotiations advised the BBC that Hamas’s announcement was meant as a goodwill gesture earlier than President Donald Trump arrives within the Center East on Tuesday.
He mentioned 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 brief halt to Israeli army exercise and a suspension of aerial operations through the handover.
Born in Tel Aviv however raised in New Jersey, Alexander was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants through 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 considered the one one nonetheless alive.
In its assertion, Hamas mentioned the discharge was a part of efforts to realize a ceasefire and permit meals, drugs and different provides into Gaza – which has been below a whole blockade by Israel for 70 days. The group mentioned it wished to succeed in a remaining settlement to finish the warfare.
The Israeli prime minister’s workplace mentioned in an announcement that it had been knowledgeable by the US of the Hamas intention to launch Alexander “as a gesture in the direction of the People” and that the transfer was anticipated to result in negotiations on additional hostages.
Israel’s coverage was that negotiations can be carried out “below hearth, primarily based on the dedication to realize the entire targets of the warfare”, it added.
The Households and Lacking Households Discussion board marketing campaign group mentioned Alexander’s launch “should mark the start of a complete settlement that may safe the liberty of all remaining hostages”.
They mentioned President Trump had “given the households of all of the hostages hope” and urged Netanyahu to now “carry everybody again”.
Hamas has previously mentioned it should solely conform to a deal that features the top of the warfare, one thing that has been repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
ReutersThe talks between Hamas and the US are happening amid a number of stories suggesting rising frustration within the Trump administration with Netanyahu’s place. The prime minister can also be below strain 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 army offensive in opposition to Hamas if no deal is reached by the top of his go to.
Israeli officers have mentioned the plans for his or her expanded offensive embody seizing the entire territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking up assist distribution with non-public corporations regardless of protests from the UN and its humanitarian companions.
Israel has already blocked the entry of all meals, remedy and different humanitarian provides into Gaza for 70 days and renewed its aerial bombardment and different army operations there in mid-March, which have since killed 2,720 Palestinians in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry.
For the reason that starting of the yr, in keeping with the UN, about 10,000 circumstances of acute malnutrition amongst youngsters 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 army marketing campaign has killed 52,829 individuals in Gaza, in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry.
