Hamas to release American hostage in Gaza, ready for second-phase ceasefire talks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Palestinians passing by the rubble of destroyed houses in Gaza City on March 11.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUBAI - Hamas said on March 14 that it agreed to release an American-Israeli dual national, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, after receiving a proposal from mediators to continue negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal.
Hamas said in a statement that it responded “positively” to the proposal that was presented on March 13 to resume negotiations. It will also release the bodies of four other dual nationality hostages, it said, without giving further details.
Two Hamas officials told Reuters that their agreement to release the American-Israeli hostage and the four bodies was conditional on beginning the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire, opening crossings and lifting a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said: “We are working with mediators for the agreement to succeed and to compel the occupation to conclude all phases of the agreement.”
Meetings between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler in recent days sought the release of Mr Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey, who served as a soldier with the Israeli military.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Mr Alexander was a “top priority”.
Mr Qanoua said: “Hamas’ approval to release Edan Alexander aims to push towards the conclusion of the phases of the agreement.”
Israel on March 14 said Hamas had “not budged” in Gaza truce talks and was engaged in “psychological warfare”, after the group said it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the bodies of others.
“Whereas Israel accepted the Witkoff framework, Hamas remains firm in its refusal and has not budged an inch,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said and accused Hamas of resorting to “manipulation and psychological warfare”.
The US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to bridge differences between the Islamic militant group and Israel to restart negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal, in order to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza and facilitate the entry of aid into the war-torn enclave.
Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as a stand-off over the truce escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
Fighting in Gaza has been halted since Jan 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord.
Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The second phase involves talks over an agreement for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave. Israel demands that the Palestinian militant group free the remaining hostages without beginning phase two negotiations. REUTERS/AFP
