Hamas has stated it can launch a US-Israeli captive held in Gaza, because the group confirmed it was engaged in direct talks with the USA in the direction of securing a ceasefire within the war-ravaged enclave and getting support flowing once more to a struggling Palestinian inhabitants.
The Palestinian group launched a press release on Sunday: “Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a twin US nationwide, shall be launched as a part of the steps taken in the direction of a ceasefire, reopen the crossings, and ship support and reduction to our individuals within the Gaza Strip”.
Israel has blocked all support going into Gaza, together with meals, medication and gasoline, for 70 days.
The Hamas assertion didn’t point out when the 21-year-old Alexander could be launched, however it’s regarded as within the coming 48 hours.
Israeli media reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff shall be in Israel on Monday as a part of the deal.
The announcement comes shortly earlier than US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week – which doesn’t embrace a visit to Israel. Trump and Witkoff have incessantly talked about Alexander by identify prior to now few months.
Witkoff later confirmed Hamas had agreed to launch Alexander within the hopes of restarting ceasefire talks.
Alexander, who grew up within the US, was taken from his army base in the course of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault.
In its assertion on Sunday, Hamas stated it was prepared to “instantly start intensive negotiations” that would result in an settlement to finish the battle and would see Gaza beneath a technocratic and unbiased administration.
“This can guarantee calm and stability for a few years, together with reconstruction and the tip of the blockade,” the group stated.
Qatar and Egypt, the 2 fundamental mediators, welcomed Hamas’ announcement, saying they thought-about the group’s transfer a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step towards the events’ return to ceasefire negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated on Sunday that the US advised Israel that Hamas’s liberating of Alexander would result in negotiations for the discharge of extra captives. The assertion added that Israel’s coverage hasn’t modified: negotiations shall be performed beneath fireplace with a continued dedication to attaining all battle goals.
‘Numerous questions’
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, stated: “It’s unclear precisely what sort of response the Israeli authorities officers had with these direct talks between Hamas and the USA, however final time they had been fairly offended and that’s as a result of the Israelis weren’t concerned and had no information of these talks and the Individuals hit again by saying they didn’t want anybody’s permission to barter with any of the actors concerned as a result of they had been American captives held in Gaza”.
“There are quite a lot of questions from quite a lot of totally different angles, particularly from the members of the family of these captives, from the bigger a part of Israeli society who’ve been protesting within the 1000’s for greater than 1.5 years, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the battle for his personal private and political achieve. And actually, Israeli officers have been saying the quiet half out loud in latest weeks, saying that the captives weren’t the principle precedence for the Israeli authorities and that they’d different objectives and goals they wanted to attain”, she added.
“The members of the family of captives say that the Israeli authorities is selecting land grabs over the lives of Israelis who’re nonetheless being held in Gaza”, she continued, referring to the Israeli authorities’s resolution to broaden its offensive in Gaza with a view to reoccupying components of the territory.
Talks ongoing in Doha
Earlier on Sunday, two Hamas officers advised the AFP information company that talks had been ongoing within the Qatari capital of Doha with the US and reported “progress” had been made.
One Hamas official, talking in regards to the talks with the US, stated there was “progress made … notably on the entry of support to the Gaza Strip” and the potential change of captives for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.
A second official additionally reported progress “on the ceasefire within the Gaza Strip”.
Israel shattered the final ceasefire, which lasted two months, on March 18, launching a significant offensive in Gaza and ramping up its bombardment of the territory.
It has additionally lower off all support to Gaza since March 2, saying it might stress Hamas to launch the remaining captives. None have been launched for the reason that fleeting truce earlier this yr, when a number of captives had been exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
A complete of 59 captives are nonetheless in Gaza, round a 3rd of them believed to be alive, after many of the relaxation had been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
Starvation has taken maintain throughout Gaza as a result of Israeli blockade.
Earlier this month, the Israeli authorities authorised plans to broaden its offensive within the Gaza Strip, with officers speaking of retaining a long-term occupying presence there.
The Well being Ministry in Gaza stated on Sunday that not less than 2,720 individuals have been killed since Israel resumed its assault, bringing the general Palestinian demise toll for the reason that battle broke out to 52,829.
