Hamas to release the American-Israel hostage Edan Alexander as part of the efforts to reach the fire of gas

Hamas says this will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as part of the effort to reach an agreement to end the fire in Gaza.

The 21-year-old soldier is the last living hostage of American nationality to be held on the territory.

This comes after a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the Palestinian Armed Force is conducting direct negotiations with an employee of the US administration in Qatar. The official said the conversations continue for several days and focused on providing a truce and facilitating the entry of humanitarian assistance.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s service said she had been informed by the United States of Hamas’s intention to release Alexander.

A senior Palestinian employee familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that Hamas’s message was intended as a gesture of goodwill before President Donald Trump arrived in the Middle East on Tuesday.

He said another meeting was planned between Hamas and mediators for early morning to finalize the process of release of Edan, which would require a temporary suspension of Israeli military activity and stop air operations during the broadcast.

Born in Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, Alexander served in an elite infantry unit on the border with gas when he was captured by fighters Hamas during the attack on October 7th.

Of the 251 hostages taken during the Hamas attack in 2023, 59 remain in the enclave, up to 24 of which are thought to be alive. It is believed that five hostages in Gaza are US citizens, and Alexander was considered the only one who is still alive.

In his statement, Hamas said the release was part of the efforts to end the fire and the resolution of food, medicines and other supplies in the gas – which had been under a complete blockade from Israel for 70 days. The group said it wanted to reach a final agreement to terminate the war.

The service of the Israeli Prime Minister said in a statement that she had been informed by the United States of Hamas’s intention to release Alexander “as a gesture to the Americans” and that this move is expected to lead to negotiations for more hostages.

Israel’s policy was that the negotiations would be held “under fire based on the commitment to achieving all the goals of the war,” she added.

The campaign of the forum of families and missing families said that the release of Alexander “must” mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement, which will ensure the freedom of all other hostages. “

They said that President Trump “gave the families of all hostages Nadezhda” and called on Netanyahu to “return everyone”.

In the past, Hamas said he would only agree with a deal that included the end of the war, something that was repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Conversations between Hamas and the United States take place against the backdrop of numerous reports, suggesting increasing powerlessness in the Trump administration with Netanyahu’s position. The prime minister is also under pressure at home, with many accusing him of extending the war for political purposes.

President Donald Trump arrives in the Middle East on Tuesday, and Israel has promised to expand his military offensive against Hamas if a deal was reached by the end of his visit.

Israeli officials said the plans for their expanded offensive include seizure throughout the territory indefinitely, forcible displacement of the Palestinians to the south, and the assumption of assistance with private companies, despite the UN protests and its humanitarian partners.

Israel is already blocking the entry of all foods, medicines and other humanitarian supplies in Gaza for 70 days and resumed its air bombing and other military operations there in mid -March, which since then killed 2720 Palestinians, according to Hamas Health Ministry.

Since the beginning of the year, according to the UN, about 10,000 cases of acute malnutrition have been identified among children. Food prices were rockets at 1,400%.

The war was triggered by the attacks led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and over 250 hostages. About 59 are still held captive, up to 24 of which are thought to be alive.

Israel’s military campaign was killed in 52,829 people in Gaza, according to Hamas Health Ministry.