• Alexander
• Gaza
• Hostage

HAMAS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER IN GAZA

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  CapitalTimesNews / 6 days
• 0
• 2 min read

Hamas has announced that Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory, and resume the delivery of aid. Two Hamas officials expect the release to happen within the next 48 hours, with one official specifying that it could occur as early as Monday as a goodwill gesture. Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, was abducted from his base during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza. His release is seen as a significant development ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week, although Trump is not planning to visit Israel. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayyah stated that the group is ready to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to reach a final deal for a long-term truce. This includes an end to the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and hostages in Gaza, and the handing over of power in Gaza to an independent body of technocrats. The release of Alexander comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where Israeli strikes have killed 15 people, mostly women and children, in recent days. The Israeli military claims it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, blaming Hamas for civilian deaths due to their presence in densely populated areas. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with food and supplies running low, and hunger widespread. Residents rely on charity-brought water, while others drink salty water from wells, leading to intestinal diseases. “I am forced to drink salty water, I have no choice,” said Mahmoud Radwan. “This causes intestinal disease, and there’s no medicine to treat it.” There are still 59 hostages in Gaza, around a third of whom are believed to be alive. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has frequently mentioned Alexander’s case, and Witkoff is expected to visit Israel soon.