Hamas has said it will release the last living American hostage held in Gaza ahead of a potential return to ceasefire negotiations.
Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey who served as a soldier with the Israeli military, was taken hostage as part of the Hamas-led attack on October 7.
Hamas sources claim the release of Alexander and four bodies was conditional on beginning the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire, opening crossings, and lifting a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.
It comes as Israeli Prime Minister’s office has accused Hamas of engaging in ‘manipulation and psychological warfare’ and said the group has not “budged a millimetre” in ceasefire talks.
Edan Alexander is set to be released under the agreement
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Displaced Palestinians take shelter in a tent camp set up at Palestine Stadium
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Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told reporters: “We are working with mediators for the agreement to succeed and to compel the occupation to conclude all phases of the agreement.
“Hamas‘s approval to release Edan Alexander aims to push towards the conclusion of the phases of the agreement.”
Fighting in the heavily bombarded enclave has been on pause since January 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord.
During this time, Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, both parties have been at loggerheads after the first phase of the deal expired on March 2.
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A woman walks next to a sign that symbolises the demand to release the hostages
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Hamas members and locals attend the funeral ceremony organised for Al-Qassam Brigades members killed in Israel’s attack
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Hamas had said it would only resume releasing hostages under the second phase, during which time, as part of the agreement, Israel is required to discuss troop withdrawal and a permanent end to the war. Israel has only offered to extend the first phase.
The cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being captured, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip since then has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and reduced much of the territory to rubble and the majority of the population displaced.
Electricity was turned off into the enclave and entry of all supplies trucks into Gaza was suspended on March 2 as the standoff escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
A Hamas militant stands near coffins during the handover of deceased hostages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel BibasReuters
Trump called Gaza a “demolition site” where “people are dying”Getty
Palestinian children walk with containers to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen
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It comes as President Donald Trump proposed a US takeover of the Strip to reconstruct the enclave, after earlier suggesting that Palestinians should be permanently displaced.
The President’s plan reinforced long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes, and was widely rejected internationally.
UN spokesperson in Geneva Michele Zaccheo said: “Any plan that could or would lead to the forced displacement of people or any type of ethnic cleansing is something that we would obviously be against, as it is against international law.”