The Palestinian militant group will launch the final American hostage to facilitate ceasefire talks
Hamas has agreed to launch Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier and the final recognized residing US hostage held in Gaza, following negotiations with the US, President Donald Trump has introduced.
Alexander was kidnapped in the course of the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the seize of roughly 250 hostages. In an announcement on Sunday, Hamas stated that Alexander can be launched “as a part of efforts in the direction of a ceasefire” and to facilitate the supply of humanitarian assist into Gaza.
“I’m blissful to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming residence to his household,” Trump wrote on Reality Social, expressing gratitude to “all these concerned,” with out mentioning Israel.
“This was a step taken in good religion towards the US and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to place an finish to this very brutal warfare and return ALL residing hostages and stays to their family members,” he added.
Trump’s particular envoy, Steve Witkoff, is predicted to reach in Israel to supervise the discharge.
“We’re selecting him up in all probability tomorrow,” Witkoff informed NBC Information on Sunday. “There was an extended negotiation with a lot of folks to thank,” he stated, noting that the gesture of goodwill grew to become doable “largely” due to Trump.
The most recent spherical of negotiations in Doha, carried out largely with out Israel’s involvement, was facilitated by oblique talks between Hamas and the US, mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Each mediators praised the event as “a gesture of goodwill and a optimistic step towards resuming negotiations aimed toward reaching a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli forces resumed their offensive in Gaza in March following the collapse of a earlier ceasefire – which Trump additionally claimed credit score for. Israel accused Hamas of refusing to launch the remaining 24 hostages believed to be alive, whereas Hamas blamed West Jerusalem for stalling talks aimed toward ending a warfare that has claimed greater than 50,000 Palestinian lives, most of them civilians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lately introduced that the nation’s safety cupboard had accepted a brand new “forceful” plan to destroy Hamas, including that Gaza’s inhabitants “will probably be moved, to guard it.” In line with the United Nations Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli forces have already restricted entry to 70 % of Gaza by no-go zones and compelled displacement orders.
In February, Trump advocated for the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to nations similar to Jordan and Egypt, arguing that it could allow the enclave’s transformation right into a resort vacation spot. Netanyahu known as it a “outstanding concept” that must be “pursued.”
