Hamas agreed Friday to launch Edan Alexander, the final dwelling American hostage in captivity within the Gaza Strip.
Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, can be launched together with the our bodies of 4 different hostages, in line with a deal supplied by mediators. As of Friday, Alexander has been held captive for 525 days, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board stated.
It is unclear when the switch will occur, however it comes as talks are ongoing in Qatar to determine the subsequent section of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the primary section of which ended on March 1. The our bodies that can be launched are of dual-national hostages, the Related Press reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated Friday that he’ll convene his ministerial workforce on Saturday to obtain an in depth report from negotiators and resolve on the subsequent steps for the discharge of the hostages.
MEET EDAN ALEXANDER, THE LAST LIVING AMERICAN HOSTAGE IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY
Edan Alexander, born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, is presently being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. (Hostage Household Discussion board)
The workplace of Steve Witkoff, particular envoy to the Center East, and the Nationwide Safety Council stated in a joint assertion that “President Trump has made it clear that Hamas will both launch hostages instantly, or pay a extreme value.”
“On Wednesday night in Doha, U.S. Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff and Nationwide Safety Council Senior Director for the Center East and North Africa Eric Trager introduced a ‘bridge’ proposal to increase the ceasefire past Ramadan and Passover, and permit time to barter a framework for a everlasting ceasefire.
“Below the “bridge” proposal, Hamas would launch dwelling hostages in change for prisoners in accordance with earlier formulation; the phase-one ceasefire can be prolonged to allow the resumption of great humanitarian help; and the U.S. would work in direction of a sturdy resolution to this intractable battle in the course of the prolonged ceasefire interval,” it continued. “Via our Qatari and Egyptian companions, Hamas was informed in no unsure phrases that this “bridge” must be carried out quickly – and that twin U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander must be launched instantly.
“Sadly, Hamas has chosen to reply by publicly claiming flexibility whereas privately making calls for which are fully impractical with no everlasting ceasefire,” the assertion concluded. “Hamas is making a really dangerous wager that point is on its facet. It isn’t.”
Netanayhu additionally stated Friday that “Whereas Israel has accepted the Witkoff proposal, Hamas stays agency in its refusal and has not moved an inch” and “On the similar time, it continues to make use of manipulations and psychological warfare.”
Yael Alexander, the mom of hostage Edan Alexander, speaks throughout The ‘Run for Their Lives’ rally and run in Central Park on the a hundredth day for the reason that October 7 assault by Hamas, on Jan. 14, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Photos)
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim informed Fox Information on Friday that “a delegation from the Hamas motion’s management obtained a proposal from mediators yesterday to renew negotiations, and responded responsibly and positively.
“The motion submitted its response early this morning, agreeing to launch… Edan Alexander, who holds U.S. citizenship, together with the stays of 4 others with twin citizenship,” Naim added. “We reaffirm our full readiness to have interaction in negotiations and attain a complete settlement on the problems of the second section, and name for obligating the occupation to completely implement its commitments.”
Although he spent most of his life in New Jersey, Alexander was born in Israel just a few months earlier than his mother and father moved to the U.S., in line with the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
AFTER TRUMP THREAT, HAMAS REFUSES TO RELEASE MORE HOSTAGES WITHOUT PHASE 2 CEASEFIRE DEAL
Donald Trump, is proven pictures of Edan Alexander by his mom Yael Alexander at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch on Oct. 7, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos)
After graduating from highschool, Alexander determined he would enlist within the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) somewhat than enroll in school.
On Oct. 7, Alexander, who was serving within the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit, was patrolling close to Gaza when Hamas’ assaults on Israel started. The assaults ended with 1,200 Israelis lifeless and 251 hostages taken, together with Alexander.
Yael Alexander, Edan’s mom, recounted the day he was taken hostage in a latest interview with AJC’s “Individuals of the Pod.” Yael was in Israel in early October 2023, visiting her household and hoping to see Edan. On the morning of Oct. 7, she spoke with Edan, who stated that he was seeing “horrible stuff,” however he assured her that he was secure. Then he was taken hostage.
On Nov. 30, 2024, greater than a 12 months after Alexander was captured, Hamas launched a video of Alexander talking in Hebrew and Arabic. Alexander, like different hostages compelled to make propaganda movies, delivered messages about Netanyahu and then-President-elect Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is seen posing with a photograph of Edan Alexander on Oct. 7, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos)
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board stated Friday that it “wholeheartedly welcomes the return of each hostage — whether or not they come house for rehabilitation or burial.”
“The return of any variety of hostages should solely be the start of a direct and complete deal to safe the discharge of ‘all hostages,'” it added. “As President Trump has assured our households and the world, and as he has acknowledged again and again, the return of all hostages is a high precedence for his administration. His dedication to bringing our family members house has given us hope throughout this darkest of instances.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“As of immediately, 59 hostages stay,” the group additionally stated. “We pray each single day for a deal that brings each certainly one of them house, instantly.”
Fox Information’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Trey Yingst, Rachel Wolf and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
About The Author
