Hamas says it's going to launch US-Israeli captive Edan Alexander | Israel-Palestine battle Information

[ad_1] Hamas has stated it's going to launch a US-Israeli captive held in Gaza, because the group confirmed it was engaged in direct talks with the US in the direction of securing a ceasefire within the war-ravaged enclave and getting help flowing once more to a struggling Palestinian inhabitants.

The Palestinian group launched a press release on Sunday: “Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a twin US nationwide, might be launched as a part of the steps taken in the direction of a ceasefire, reopen the crossings, and ship help and aid to our individuals within the Gaza Strip”.

Israel has blocked all help going into Gaza, together with meals, medication and gasoline, for 70 days.

The Hamas assertion didn't point out when the 21-year-old Alexander can be launched, however it's considered within the coming 48 hours.

Israeli media reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff might be in Israel on Monday as a part of the deal.

The announcement comes shortly earlier than US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week – which doesn't embrace a visit to Israel. Trump and Witkoff have regularly talked about Alexander by title up to now few months.

Witkoff later confirmed Hamas had agreed to launch Alexander within the hopes of restarting ceasefire talks.

Alexander, who grew up within the US, was taken from his navy base throughout the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault.

In its assertion on Sunday, Hamas stated it was prepared to “instantly start intensive negotiations” that might result in an settlement to finish the struggle and would see Gaza beneath a technocratic and impartial administration.

“It will guarantee calm and stability for a few years, together with reconstruction and the top of the blockade,” the group stated.

Qatar and Egypt, the 2 major mediators, welcomed Hamas’ announcement, saying they thought-about the group’s transfer a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step towards the events’ return to ceasefire negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated on Sunday that the US instructed Israel that Hamas’s liberating of Alexander would result in negotiations for the discharge of extra captives. The assertion added that Israel’s coverage hasn’t modified: negotiations might be performed beneath fireplace with a continued dedication to attaining all struggle goals.

‘Quite a lot of questions’ Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, stated: “It’s unclear precisely what sort of response the Israeli authorities officers had with these direct talks between Hamas and the US, however final time they have been fairly offended and that’s as a result of the Israelis weren’t concerned and had no data of these talks and the People hit again by saying they didn’t want anybody’s permission to barter with any of the actors concerned as a result of they have been American captives held in Gaza”.

“There are quite a lot of questions from quite a lot of completely different angles, particularly from the members of the family of these captives, from the bigger a part of Israeli society who've been protesting within the hundreds for greater than 1.5 years, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the struggle for his personal private and political achieve. And in reality, Israeli officers have been saying the quiet half out loud in latest weeks, saying that the captives weren't the principle precedence for the Israeli authorities and that that they had different targets and goals they wanted to realize”, she added.

“The members of the family of captives say that the Israeli authorities is selecting land grabs over the lives of Israelis who're nonetheless being held in Gaza”, she continued, referring to the Israeli authorities’s choice to develop its offensive in Gaza with a view to reoccupying components of the territory.

Talks ongoing in Doha Earlier on Sunday, two Hamas officers instructed the AFP information company that talks have been ongoing within the Qatari capital of Doha with the US and reported “progress” had been made.

One Hamas official, talking concerning the talks with the US, stated there was “progress made … notably on the entry of help to the Gaza Strip” and the potential trade of captives for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

A second official additionally reported progress “on the ceasefire within the Gaza Strip”.

Israel shattered the final ceasefire, which lasted two months, on March 18, launching a significant offensive in Gaza and ramping up its bombardment of the territory.

It has additionally reduce off all help to Gaza since March 2, saying it might strain Hamas to launch the remaining captives. None have been launched because the fleeting truce earlier this 12 months, when a number of captives have been exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

A complete of 59 captives are nonetheless in Gaza, round a 3rd of them believed to be alive, after a lot of the relaxation have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.

Starvation has taken maintain throughout Gaza as a result of Israeli blockade.

Earlier this month, the Israeli authorities authorized plans to develop its offensive within the Gaza Strip, with officers speaking of retaining a long-term occupying presence there.

The Well being Ministry in Gaza stated on Sunday that a minimum of 2,720 individuals have been killed since Israel resumed its assault, bringing the general Palestinian dying toll because the struggle broke out to 52,829.