Hamas offers to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and return four more bodies

Hamas says it offered to release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who has US citizenship, and the bodies of four other double citizens.

However, two officials of the group told Reuters news agency that the release was conditional at the beginning of the discussions on the second phase of a ceasefire and the upliftment of a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.

Mr. Alexander, 21, of the US state of New Jersey, was 19 when he was taken from his base on the border with Gaza in southern Israel during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

It is believed that he is the last living American hostage to be held in Gaza.

Earlier this month, Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, told reporters that achieving his release was a ‘top priority’, while US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler has met Hamas leaders over the past few days.

Hamas said it takes action after being contacted by mediators on negotiations for the second phase of a peace agreement.

The group, which runs Gaza and describes itself as an ‘Islamic resistance movement’, said it “responded responsibly and positively”.

It is also mentioned that ‘complete readiness to start negotiating and reaching a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase’.

It called on the ‘occupation’ (Israel) to ‘fully implement its obligations’.

However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said Hamas had “not hampered a millimeter” and was engaged in “manipulation and psychological warfare”.

Israel pushed Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for an extension of the first phase of the peace agreement, and a promise to negotiate a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others.

The Spirit for Peace is willing, but differences remain

Israel and Hamas say they are both willing to expand the ceasefire in Gaza, but there is a significant difference of opinion on how to happen.

Israel says it is committed to the ‘Witkoff plan’ suggesting that half of the remaining 59 hostages be released immediately, and then the remaining hostages at the end of six weeks, as long as there was an agreement to end the war.

Hamas insists on the implementation of phase two of the original agreement, which would be a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza, an end to the battles and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

Each side tries the favor of Washington: Israel through the plan of Mr. Witkoff and Hamas endorsed by releasing at least one US national, Edan Alexander.

Discussions in Doha have continued all week, which is considered a positive sign, but Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has now remembered his negotiation team for further consultations this weekend.

Israel has already stopped humanitarian assistance deliveries in Gaza and cut off electricity to a water treatment plant, which encouraged international condemnation, but not from the US.

After 15 months of war, it is not clear what a resumption in battle for Israel would reach, and it could risk the lives of the remaining living hostages. An agreement with Hamas remains the best opportunity to release the prisoners.

But an end to the war, as Hamas demands, the Israeli government can collapse if the right -wing parties resign, as they threatened to do, and the Mr. Netanyahu’s power ends in power.

Key is likely to be US President Donald Trump’s response and whether he agrees that Hamas is manipulative and ominous, or if he feels that Mr. Netanyahu has the opportunity to get more hostages home and expand the ceasefire.

Fighting has been discontinued in Gaza since January 19 under the first phase of a truce of three divisions, during which Hamas 33 exchanged Israeli hostages and five Thais for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

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But when the first phase ended on March 2, the two parties could not agree to start the second one.

Israel offered to expand the first phase, while Hamas said it would be resurrected again under the second phase, during which Israel is needed to discuss the withdrawal of troops and a permanent end to the war.

Israel blocked the entry of all supply trucks on March 2, while Hamas called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators
to intervene.

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