A girl holds a poster bearing a portrait of an Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza since October 2023 subsequent to a number of portaits, together with two (C) of Israeli-US captive Edan Alexander, at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv as folks look forward to his launch on Might 12, 2025.
Menahem Kahana/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Menahem Kahana/AFP through Getty Pictures
TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas is anticipated to launch Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander on Monday, as a part of what the militant group mentioned was a step towards reaching a ceasefire settlement with Israel.
Alexander, a 21 year-old Israeli soldier raised in New Jersey, is the final remaining U.S. citizen captured by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and held in Gaza, who’s believed to nonetheless be alive. The our bodies of 4 different People are nonetheless held in Gaza, in line with the U.S.
President Trump posted on his social media platform that the discharge is a “step taken in good religion” to place an finish to the struggle.
In a press release, Hamas mentioned it had been holding talks with the U.S. for the final a number of days. The militant group mentioned the discharge would come as a part of a ceasefire effort to open Gaza’s border crossings and produce help to Gaza. Israel has blocked all help together with meals and medical provides for greater than 10 weeks to stress Hamas to launch extra hostages. Humanitarian teams say it’s driving rampant starvation within the territory.
A Hamas official says the U.S. has made guarantees in return for hostage launch
A Hamas official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to talk publicly, informed NPR that the discharge was in return for unspecified gestures the U.S. promised.
The official hinted it anticipated Israel to launch some Palestinian prisoners and guarantee some help into Gaza, and anticipated the U.S. to barter a broader take care of Israel that ensures the top of the struggle.
“The ball is now within the American and Israeli courtroom. We gave the People what they requested for. They should get the opposite facet to present issues too,” the Hamas official mentioned.
Israel denies it should provide concessions in alternate for hostage launch
A press release from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace on Monday mentioned that Alexander’s return “with out something in return” is because of President Trump’s diplomacy and the Israeli army’s stress in Gaza.
The assertion mentioned Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire in alternate for Alexander’s launch.
In what’s often known as Hostages Sq. in downtown Tel Aviv, scores of Israelis stood in entrance of a big tv display with Alexander’s picture, awaiting his launch. Supporters held indicators with the pictures of different Israeli hostages nonetheless held in Gaza. One girl in a vivid yellow pantsuit held an indication in English that mentioned “Trump we belief you.”
Supporters of the hostages expressed frustration that the Israeli management has not achieved their freedom whereas the U.S. struck its personal take care of Hamas for the discharge of a U.S. citizen.
“Trump is doing an amazing job in sustaining and persevering with to get these hostages again, and I’m not positive what our authorities is doing to make sure the discharge of the hostages,” mentioned Maya Weinrich, a 27-year-old medical scholar and twin U.S.-Israeli citizen.
Palestinians in Gaza praised President Trump
In Gaza Metropolis, Palestinian resident Awni Abu Kumail mentioned he understands why Hamas agreed to launch Alexander.
“Hamas desires to show to the U.S. that it is not the one holding up the ceasefire talks,” Abu Kumail mentioned.
“Trump has proven Israel that america is stronger,” mentioned resident Ahmed Abu Hadid in Gaza Metropolis. “With out the U.S. there would by no means be any options.”
Hostage launch deal is newest U.S. sidestep of Israel
Alexander’s launch comes as Trump heads 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.
The U.S.-Hamas deal is the newest in a collection of main choices Trump has taken within the Mideast whereas sidestepping Israel’s management. These strikes embrace U.S. nuclear talks with Iran, a truce with the Houthis in Yemen that didn’t assure the top of Houthi missile assaults on Israel, and U.S. talks for a Saudi civilian nuclear program that will not be conditioned on Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel in return.
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 straight 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 international locations which have performed key roles in negotiation efforts between Israel and Hamas all through the struggle, together with the U.S. — issued a joint announcement welcoming the discharge of Alexander, calling it a “encouraging step” towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
Scores of different hostages stay in Hamas captivity as Israel wages struggle
There are 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, together with Alexander, greater than half of whom are believed to be lifeless, in line with Israel. Hamas had launched 38 hostages in alternate for 1000’s 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 couple of third of Gaza’s territory, and has imposed a whole blockade on all help together with meals and gasoline, whereas persevering with a lethal and harmful air marketing campaign. Earlier this month it mentioned it deliberate to broaden its offensive there.
Gaza well being authorities say greater than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli assaults on the territory for the reason that begin of the struggle in October 2023. About 1,200 folks in Israel had been killed within the Hamas-led assaults that month and a few 250 folks had been taken hostage, in line with Israel.
Daniel Estrin, Itay Stern and Carrie Kahn contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Anas Baba from Gaza Metropolis, and Abu Bakr Bashir from London.
