Hamas to launch US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as a part of efforts to succeed in Gaza ceasefire

[ad_1] Rushdi Abualouf Gaza correspondent

Hugo Bachega Center East correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2d86/live/c593b780-2ec6-11f0-b3e4-b7df0c3c542b.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of hostage Edan Alexander, wears a white hat and white jacket as she points at the portrait of Edan, next to the wire fence next to their kibbutz" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Reuters Edan Alexander's grandmother holds a photograph of him, as she known as for his launch once more final month

Hamas says it would launch Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who's believed to be the final residing captive with US nationality in Gaza, as part of efforts to succeed in a ceasefire settlement.

The choice comes forward of President Donald Trump's go to to the Center East on Tuesday. Hamas stated it was additionally meant to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian help. Gaza has been beneath an Israeli blockade for 70 days.

Earlier a senior Hamas official advised the BBC that the Palestinian armed group was holding direct negotiations with a US administration official in Qatar.

The Israeli prime minister's workplace stated 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 Trump's arrival.

He stated 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 navy exercise and a suspension of aerial operations throughout the handover.

President Trump confirmed Alexander's launch in a publish on Reality Social, calling it "monumental information" and "a step taken in good religion".

Born in Tel Aviv however raised in New Jersey, 21-year-old Alexander was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants throughout 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 regarded as the one one nonetheless alive.

In its assertion, Hamas stated the discharge was a part of efforts to attain a ceasefire and permit meals, medication and different provides into Gaza - which has been beneath an entire blockade by Israel for 70 days. The group stated it needed to succeed in a remaining settlement to finish the warfare.

The Israeli prime minister's workplace stated in a press release that it had been knowledgeable by the US of the Hamas intention to launch Alexander "as a gesture in direction of the People" and that the transfer was anticipated to result in negotiations on additional hostages.

Israel's coverage was that negotiations could be performed "beneath fireplace, primarily based on the dedication to attain all the targets of the warfare", it added.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/95f3/live/930a82b0-2ea0-11f0-8f57-b7237f6a66e6.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Protesters hold up a photo of Edan Alexander" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Photos An image of Edan Alexander may be seen at an illustration in Israel calling for the discharge of the remaining hostages

The Households and Lacking Households Discussion board marketing campaign group stated Alexander's launch "should mark the start of a complete settlement that may safe the liberty of all remaining hostages".

They stated President Trump had "given the households of all of the hostages hope" and urged Netanyahu to now "convey everybody again".

Hamas has up to now stated it would solely conform to a deal that features the tip of the warfare, one thing that has been repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The talks between Hamas and the US are going down amid a number of reviews suggesting rising frustration within the Trump administration with Netanyahu's place. The prime minister can be beneath stress at house, 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 increase its navy offensive towards Hamas if no deal is reached by the tip of his go to.

Israeli officers have stated the plans for his or her expanded offensive embody seizing all the territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking on help distribution with non-public firms regardless of opposition from the UN and its humanitarian companions, who say they won't co-operate as a result of it seems to "weaponise" help.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/efe1/live/011ee000-2e99-11f0-812e-8f0a5e41acc1.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Jabalia" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Reuters Gaza has been beneath a full Israeli blockade for 70 days

Israel has already blocked the entry of all meals, medicine and different humanitarian provides into Gaza for 70 days, which help businesses say quantities to a coverage of hunger and might be a warfare crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and different navy 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 12 months, in keeping with the UN, about 10,000 circumstances of acute malnutrition amongst kids 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 folks killed and greater than 250 taken hostage. Some 59 are nonetheless held captive, as much as 24 of whom are believed to be alive.