Israeli-American hostage launched by Hamas in Gaza

[ad_1] Hamas has launched an Israeli-American hostage held captive for 19 months to Israeli forces as a part of efforts to succeed in a brand new ceasefire deal, the group mentioned.

Edan Alexander, 21, had been serving within the Israeli military on the border of Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.

On Monday, Israel paused its navy operations in Gaza for a number of hours to facilitate the switch. A senior Hamas official informed the BBC the discharge was meant as a goodwill gesture forward of US President Donald Trump's go to to the Center East on Tuesday.

Mr Alexander is believed to have been the final US nationwide alive held by Hamas. Trump provided "congratulations" to his household after his launch.

In a press release, his household thanked the US president but in addition urged the Israeli authorities and negotiators to proceed working to free the 58 remaining hostages.

Mr Alexander is the primary to be freed by Hamas since Israel restarted its navy offensive on 18 March, after a two-month ceasefire got here to an finish.

On Monday, he was seen with masked Hamas fighters as they handed him over to Pink Cross staff within the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis.

He was then transferred to Israeli authorities in Gaza earlier than being reunited together with his household in southern Israel. The Israeli navy mentioned it supplied a "protected hall" for Mr Alexander's launch.

A video shared on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's X account confirmed Yael Alexander talking to her son over the telephone.

"You might be sturdy. You might be protected. You might be dwelling," she mentioned within the video.

Netanyahu known as Mr Alexander's return a "very transferring second" - and thanked President Trump for his help.

The discharge had been made doable due to navy strain on Hamas and "the political strain exerted by President Trump", Netanyahu mentioned.

He added that Israel meant to proceed with plans to accentuate its navy actions in Gaza and that there could be no ceasefire.

Hamas had earlier mentioned Mr Alexander's launch was meant to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian support into the enclave.

Israel has blocked the entry of all meals, remedy and different humanitarian provides into Gaza for 70 days, which support businesses say quantities to a coverage of hunger and may very well be a conflict crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and different navy operations there in mid-March.

Hamas has beforehand mentioned it can solely conform to a deal that features the tip of the conflict. This has been repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu.

Trump is because of arrive 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 mentioned the plans for his or her expanded offensive embrace seizing the entire territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking up support 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" support.

Israel is because of ship representatives to Qatar on Thursday to debate a proposal on additional hostage releases.

Qatar and Egypt mentioned that Mr Alexander's launch was an encouraging signal of potential new truce talks.

Born in Tel Aviv however raised in New Jersey, Mr Alexander had been serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border when he was captured by Hamas militants throughout the 7 October 2003 assault.

About 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 hostages taken. Some 58 hostages stay, as much as 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

5 of the captives held in Gaza are believed to have US citizenship. Mr Alexander is regarded as the final American nonetheless alive.

Israel's navy marketing campaign has killed 52,829 folks in Gaza, based on the Hamas-run well being ministry, together with 2,720 Palestinians killed since March.