Hamas says Edan Alexander, the final residing American hostage in Gaza, will likely be launched as a part of efforts to determine a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory and resume the supply of assist.
The Hamas assertion Sunday night time doesn’t say when the discharge will occur. The announcement comes shortly earlier than U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Center East this week. Trump will not be planning to go to Israel.
Alexander is an Israeli American soldier who grew up in the US. He was kidnapped from his base through the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault that ignited the warfare in Gaza.
There was no instant response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace. Netanyahu’s authorities was angered by U.S. direct talks with Hamas earlier this 12 months.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas chief in Gaza, stated the group has been in touch with the U.S. administration over the previous few days.
Israel has authorised a plan to accentuate navy operations in opposition to Hamas by seizing Gaza, establishing new bases and staying for an unspecified period of time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the inhabitants of Gaza will likely be moved to the south.
A earlier model of this video contained the inaccurate variety of hostages.
Al-Hayyah stated in a press release Hamas is able to “instantly begin intensive negotiations” to achieve a closing deal for a long-term truce which incorporates an finish to the warfare, the change of Palestinian prisoners and hostages in Gaza and the handing over of energy in Gaza to an impartial physique of technocrats.
Alexander’s mother and father didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Trump and his particular envoy Steve Witkoff have steadily talked about Alexander, now 21, by title previously few months. Witkoff is anticipated to go to Israel within the coming hours.
“Each time they are saying Edan’s title, it is like they did not neglect. They did not neglect he is American, and so they’re engaged on it,” Edan’s mom, Yael Alexander, advised The Related Press in February.
Hamas launched a video of Alexander in November through the Thanksgiving weekend, his favorite vacation, his mom stated. The video was tough to look at as he cried and pleaded for assist, but it surely was a aid to see the newest signal that he was alive, she stated.
A local of Tenafly, N.J., the place his mother and father and two youthful siblings nonetheless reside, Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after highschool and enlisted within the navy.
Fifty-nine hostages are nonetheless inside Gaza, round a 3rd of them believed to be alive, after many of the relaxation had been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
Bombardment continues
Israeli strikes in a single day and into Sunday killed 15 folks within the Gaza Strip, principally ladies and youngsters, in response to native well being officers.
Two of the strikes hit tents within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, every killing two kids and their mother and father, in response to Nasser Hospital, which obtained the our bodies. One other seven folks had been killed in strikes elsewhere, together with a person and his little one in a Gaza Metropolis neighborhood, in response to hospitals and Gaza’s Well being Ministry.
The Israeli navy says it solely targets militants and tries to keep away from harming civilians. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths within the 19-month-old warfare as a result of the militants are embedded in densely populated areas. There was no instant Israeli touch upon the most recent strikes.
Israel has sealed Gaza off from all imports, together with meals, medication and emergency shelter, for over 10 weeks in what it says is a strain tactic aimed toward forcing Hamas to launch hostages. Israel resumed its offensive in March, shattering a ceasefire that had facilitated the discharge of greater than 30 hostages.
The UN and assist teams say meals and different provides are operating low and starvation is widespread. Support teams say the humanitarian disaster is worse than at any time within the 19-month warfare.
Youngsters carrying empty bottles raced after a water tanker in a devastated space of northern Gaza on Sunday. Residents of the built-up Shati refugee camp stated the water was introduced by a charity from elsewhere in Gaza. With out it, they depend on wells which are salty and infrequently polluted.
Youngsters in Gaza are displaying indicators of acute malnutrition as Israel’s assist blockade stretches into its third month. Israel has stated it plans to take over assist distribution within the coming weeks and has authorised plans to seize your complete Gaza Strip for an unspecified period of time.
“I’m compelled to drink salty water, I’ve no alternative,” stated Mahmoud Radwan. “This causes intestinal illness, and there is no medication to deal with it.”
COGAT, the Israeli navy physique accountable for Palestinian civilian affairs, says sufficient assist entered throughout a two-month ceasefire this 12 months and that two of the three principal water traces from Israel are nonetheless functioning.
Trump, whose administration has voiced full assist for Israel’s actions, is ready to go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week in a regional tour that won’t embrace Israel.
The warfare started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, and taking 251 hostage, in response to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, principally ladies and youngsters, in response to Gaza’s Well being Ministry. The offensive has destroyed huge areas of the territory and displaced some 90 per cent of its inhabitants of round two million.
