CrossFireArabia
Hamas, Sunday, said it will release Israeli-American hostage Idan Alexander as part of ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
As part of efforts made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, Hamas are in direct talks with the US administration and has been so over the past few days and expressed a “high degree of positivity.”
Alexander, a soldier who was serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border, is known to be the last remaining American hostage in Gaza who is still alive.
It is understood that his release would be among several steps to facilitate a ceasefire, reopen border crossings and allow humanitarian aid and relief supplies into the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said also it wants to enter immediate and intensive negotiations to reach a final ceasefire accord, a mutually agreed prisoner exchange, and the formation of an independent professional body to govern Gaza.
The Islamist group stated such a framework would help ensure long-term calm and stability alongside reconstruction and the lifting of the Israeli blockade.
Hamas also praised the ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt as well as Türkiye.
Israel estimates that 59 captives remain in Gaza, including 21 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, over 9,900 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, where rights groups report widespread torture, starvation and medical neglect, resulting in several deaths.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the US informed Israel of Hamas’ intention to release Alexander as a gesture of goodwill to Washington and “without any conditions or exchange.”
Netanyahu’s office said the move is expected to lead to negotiations over the release of additional captives based on an original proposal from US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, which Israel previously approved according to Anadolu.
The statement added that Israel is preparing for the possibility that the release will take place.
“In accordance with Israel’s policy, negotiations will take place under fire, with full commitment to achieving all the objectives of the war,” it said.
There was no immediate comment from US or Palestinian officials regarding the statements.
The Israeli news site Walla quoted Israeli officials as saying that Tel Aviv is obligated to implement a temporary ceasefire to ensure the release of Alexander.
The Israel Hayom daily reported that the ceasefire is expected to last only a few hours.
It also said that Israel will allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza as part of the arrangement for Alexander’s release, which is expected to take place within the next 48 hours.
Citing an unnamed Israeli source, Israel Hayom said Tel Aviv will open border crossings to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza as part of the process, while also stating that no Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for Alexander.
Channel 13 reported that Israel is not a party to the agreement and was only notified after the deal had been coordinated.
Channel 12, citing an unnamed Israeli source, reported that recent days brought signs indicating that Hamas could release Alexander, though Israel was not involved in the negotiations.
The anticipated release comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Tuesday through Friday. The itinerary does not include a visit to Israel.
The trip comes amid reports of rising tension between Trump and Netanyahu, including allegations that Trump has cut off direct communication over suspicions that Netanyahu is manipulating the US administration.
Witkoff’s March proposal included the release of five Israeli captives in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the start of negotiations for a second phase, according to Israeli media outlets.
Hamas previously said that it did not reject the Witkoff plan and accused Netanyahu of resuming the war to sabotage the agreement.
More than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
