Hamas says it will launch the last living hostage of America in Gaza United States news
Hamas announced on Sunday that it will issue the last hostage of America in Gaza, Edin Alexander, an Israeli -American soldier who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023.
Donald Trump confirmed the news in Social media publicationWriting that Alexander, 21, “returns home for his family.”
The US President added: “This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the intermediaries – Qatar and Egypt – to put an end to this very brutal war and return all the living hostages and are still for their loved ones.”
The prisoner is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, according to Reuters reports, noting a source familiar with the matter.
Trump begins a trip to the Middle East on the same day, although there is no stop in Israel on his agenda so far. The President is scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Trump envoy in the Middle East, Steve Witkeov, He said The Israeli newspaper, Haritz, who will travel to Israel on Monday. “At the present time, the intention is to re -condemn Alexander to his family.”
Adam Bouhler, The United States for hostile envoy, traveling to Israel with Alexander’s parents, an American official I told Axius.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement: “The United States has informed Israel about the intention of Hamas in the release of the soldier, Alexander, as a gesture of the Americans, without circumstances or anything in return. The United States has reported to Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations to launch hostages according to the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted. Edrake is preparing for the possibilities that are being implemented in this effort.”
The statement pointed out that Israel did not agree to the ceasefire, and intends to continue its military attack on Gaza. “According to Israel’s policy, negotiations will be held under fire, based on the commitment to achieving all the goals of the war,” said Netanyahu’s office.
Israel will not be asked to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of Alexander, Axios reportsBut he will have to agree to the temporary ceasefire and stop drone flights on Gaza to allow Alexander to leave the pocket safely.
The Alexander family said in statement It was issued by the Israeli hostage forum and the missing families forum: “The family confirms that it was informed of the Hamas announcement and that it is in constant contact with the American government regarding the possibility of launching the expected condemnation in the coming days.”
Bouhler, The hostage envoy told Reuters that the planned version of Alexander was a “positive step forward” and asked Hamas to release the bodies of four other Americans who died in captivity in Gaza.
According to Haritz, among the four dead Americans, two were serving in the Israeli army, Omir Nitra, 21 years old, chicken, 19, and two older Israeli Americans, Judier Winstein-Hagai, 70, and her husband Jad Hagai, 73, who lived in the occurrence of gas borders. October.
Khalil Al -Hayya, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, said in a statement that the group is ready to “start immediately in intensive negotiation” to reach a final deal that would end the deadly war of Israel on Gaza.
Over the past year and a half last year, the Israeli forces killed at least 52,800 Palestinians while they were forcibly removing two million survivors – including children – across the narrow strip amid a lack of food and aid widely due to Israeli restrictions.
Meanwhile, 59 hostages are still in Gaza. According to Trump, only 21 remains alive.
The governments of Qatar and Egypt, which were intermediaries aimed at ending the war in Gaza, said in Joint Hamas’s decision to release Alexander was “a good -intention gesture and a positive step towards resuming negotiations aimed at reaching the ceasefire.”
Alexander, who was born in Israel, but grew up in the United States by Israeli parents, moved to Israel in 2022 after graduating from high school and was recruited in the Israeli army.
His parents and the youngest siblings are still living in Tinafley, New Jersey.
“Prayer that Hamas followed and was condemned to the house,” JD Vance, US Vice President, was published on the Internet on Sunday. “If they do so, this will be another victory for Steve Witkev, who continues to face smart attacks to liberate hostages, negotiate complex diplomatic proposals, and serve his country (at a large financial cost).”