DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas stated Sunday that the final dwelling American hostage in Gaza, Edan Alexander, can be launched as a part of efforts to determine a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory and resume the supply of help. Two Hamas officers advised The Related Press they count on the discharge within the subsequent 48 hours.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed late Sunday in a message to AP that Hamas had agreed to launch Alexander as will gesture towards Trump.
The announcement of the primary hostage launch since Israel shattered a ceasefire in March comes shortly earlier than Trump visits the Center East this week. It highlighted the willingness of Israel’s closest ally to inject momentum into ceasefire talks for the 19-month struggle as desperation grows amongst hostages’ households and Gaza’s over 2 million individuals below the brand new Israeli blockade.
Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in New Jersey. He was kidnapped from his base throughout the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault that ignited the struggle in Gaza.
Amir Levy by way of Getty Pictures
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated the U.S. knowledgeable it of Hamas’ intent to launch Alexander “without compensation or conditions” and that the step is predicted to result in negotiations on a truce. Netanyahu’s authorities was angered by U.S. direct talks with Hamas earlier this yr — which led to a Hamas provide to launch Alexander and the our bodies of 4 different hostages if Israel recommitted to a stalled ceasefire deal. Days later, nevertheless, Israel resumed the struggle.
Witkoff advised the AP that Hamas’ objective in releasing Alexander was to restart talks on a ceasefire, the discharge of further hostages and a surge of humanitarian help into Gaza earlier than Israel carries out a threatened whole takeover of the territory.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas chief in Gaza, stated the group has been involved with the U.S. administration over the previous few days.
Al-Hayyah stated in a press release Hamas is able to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to achieve a remaining deal for a long-term truce, which incorporates an finish to the struggle, the trade of Palestinian prisoners and hostages in Gaza and the handing over of energy in Gaza to an unbiased physique of technocrats.
Oblique talks between Hamas and the U.S. started 5 days in the past, an Egyptian official and a senior Hamas official advised the AP, with each describing the discharge of Alexander as a gesture of goodwill.
The senior Hamas official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to talk to the media, stated Alexander is predicted to be launched on Monday. Hamas was suggested to “give a gift to President Trump and in return he will give back a better one,” the official stated.
One other Hamas official, talking on situation of anonymity to debate negotiations, stated Alexander’s launch is predicted within the subsequent 48 hours, including that it requires Israel to pause preventing for a few hours.
The Egyptian official concerned in ceasefire negotiations, talking on situation of anonymity to debate talks, stated Hamas acquired assurances from the Trump administration by Egyptian and Qatari mediators that Alexander’s launch “will put all files on the negotiating table” together with an finish to the struggle.
Alexander’s mother and father didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures
Trump and Witkoff have often talked about Alexander, now 21, by identify prior to now few months. Witkoff was touring to the area on Monday forward of Alexander’s anticipated launch.
“Every time they say Edan’s name, it’s like they didn’t forget. They didn’t forget he’s American, and they’re working on it,” Edan’s mom, Yael Alexander, advised The Related Press earlier this yr.
Hamas launched a video of Alexander in November throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, his mom stated. The video was troublesome to observe as he cried and pleaded for assist, however it was a reduction to see the most recent signal that he was alive, she stated.
Fifty-nine hostages are nonetheless in Gaza, round a 3rd of them believed to be alive. A lot of the relaxation have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers. The Hostages Households Discussion board, the grassroots discussion board representing most hostage households, stated Alexander’s launch “must mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement” that may free everybody.
Trump, whose administration has voiced full assist for Israel’s actions, is about to go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week in a regional tour.
Bombardment Continues
Israeli strikes in a single day and into Sunday killed 15 individuals in Gaza, principally ladies and youngsters, in keeping with native well being officers.
Two strikes hit tents within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, every killing two youngsters and their mother and father, in keeping with Nasser Hospital, which acquired the our bodies. One other seven individuals have been killed in strikes elsewhere, together with a person and his little one in a Gaza Metropolis neighborhood, in keeping with hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The Israeli navy says it solely targets militants and tries to keep away from harming civilians. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths within the 19-month-old struggle as a result of the militants are embedded in densely populated areas.
Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures
Israel has sealed Gaza off from all imports, together with meals, drugs and emergency shelter, for over 10 weeks in what it says is a stress tactic geared toward forcing Hamas to launch hostages. Israel in March shattered the ceasefire that had facilitated the discharge of greater than 30 hostages.
Help teams say the humanitarian disaster is worse than at any time within the struggle, with meals operating low.
The struggle started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking 251 hostage.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, principally ladies and youngsters, in keeping with Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how most of the useless have been combatants or civilians. The offensive has destroyed huge areas of the territory and displaced some 90% of its inhabitants.
Israel Recovers Stays Of Soldier Killed In Lebanon In 1982
In a separate improvement, Israel stated it retrieved the stays of a soldier killed in a 1982 battle in southern Lebanon after he had been labeled as lacking for greater than 4 many years.
The Israeli navy stated Sgt. 1st Class Tzvi Feldman’s stays have been recovered from deep inside Syria, with out offering additional particulars.
Netanyahu visited Feldman’s surviving siblings and advised them that the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad late final yr led to an “opportunity” that allowed the navy and the Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence company, to assemble further intelligence and find and retrieve the physique, in keeping with video launched by his workplace.
Feldman went lacking, together with 5 different Israeli troopers, in a battle with Syrian forces within the Lebanese city of Sultan Yaaqoub.
Magdy reported from Cairo. Related Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
