Hamas stated on Saturday that the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, 21, is contingent upon Israel’s full implementation of the existing Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement.
Alexander is believed to be the last living American hostage held by the group.
According to a senior Hamas official speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, the long-delayed second phase of ceasefire talks must commence on the day of Alexander’s release and conclude within 50 days. Hamas also demands that Israel cease obstructing humanitarian aid, and withdraw its forces from a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt.
The official described the proposal as an “exceptional deal” intended to revive the stalled truce.
The release of additional Palestinian prisoners is also a condition set by Hamas in exchange for hostages, the official added.
Hamas had agreed on Friday to release Alexander along with the remains of four other hostages, following a proposal from mediators. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum reports that Alexander has been held captive for 526 days as of Saturday.
The announcement coincides with ongoing talks in Qatar aimed at establishing the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the initial phase of which concluded on March 1.
A joint statement from the office of Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the , and the National Security Council, declared that “President Trump has made it clear that Hamas will either release hostages immediately, or pay a severe price.”
Witkoff and Eric Trager, National Security Council senior director for the Middle East and North Africa, presented a ‘bridge’ proposal designed to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, allowing time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with his ministerial team on Saturday to review a detailed report from negotiators and determine the next steps for securing the hostages’ release.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has announced that rallies are planned throughout Israel on Saturday to advocate for the release of the remaining 59 hostages. The primary rallies will take place in Tel Aviv, Sha’ar HaNegev Junction, Carmei Gat, and Jerusalem.
While Alexander has spent the majority of his life in , he was born in Israel shortly before his family relocated to the U.S., according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
After graduating from high school, Alexander chose to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) instead of attending college.
On October 7th, Alexander, serving in the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit, was patrolling near Gaza when Hamas launched its attacks on Israel. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages, including Alexander.
In a recent interview with AJC’s “People of the Pod,” Edan’s mother, Yael Alexander, recounted the day of his capture. She was visiting family in Israel in early October 2023 and hoped to see Edan. On the morning of October 7th, she spoke with Edan, who reported seeing “terrible stuff” but assured her of his safety. He was subsequently taken hostage.
On November 30, 2024, over a year after his capture, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking in both Hebrew and Arabic. Like other hostages forced to appear in propaganda videos, Alexander delivered messages about Netanyahu and then-President-elect
‘ Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Trey Yingst, Rachel Wolf and Stephen Sorace, as well as The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
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