Hamas has announced its readiness to release an Israeli-US soldier held captive in Gaza and to hand over the remains of four other Israeli-US nationals, potentially marking a significant advancement in the ongoing negotiations aimed at achieving a fragile ceasefire in the devastated region. The militant Islamist organization stated on Friday that it is prepared to free Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier with American citizenship, along with the remains of the other individuals.
Hamas also expressed a positive response to a proposal presented on Thursday to resume negotiations that had previously come to a standstill in Qatar. Although the details of what Hamas might demand in return for the release of the Israeli-US hostages were not revealed, this development represents a crucial moment in the ongoing discussions.
The initial phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, which went into effect in January, expired nearly two weeks ago. Since then, Hamas has been advocating for the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire, which is intended to bring a definitive end to the conflict. In contrast, Israel has so far refused to proceed to the second phase and is instead pushing for an extension of the first phase, leaving open the possibility of a new military operation in the future.
However, the return of US hostages held in Gaza has been a high-priority objective for the Trump administration, presenting a difficult challenge for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has consistently opposed any permanent termination of the war in Gaza, partly due to political considerations at home. Nonetheless, he has emphasized the importance of fostering good relationships with the White House.
After over 16 months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, Washington recently established a direct channel of talks with Hamas. This move aims to secure the release of US citizens who were abducted by the organization during its surprise assault on Israel in October 2023. During the attack, Hamas abducted 251 hostages and killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians.
In a social media post earlier this month, former US President Donald Trump stated that there would be severe consequences if all 58 hostages still held in Gaza were not released, with less than half believed to be alive.
The Israeli government’s response to the news of direct talks between the US and Hamas was limited, with only a brief statement from Netanyahu’s office acknowledging the negotiations. However, the mass-market newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel was “stunned to discover that, behind its back, Trump’s envoy had engaged in weeks of negotiations in Doha” with a senior Hamas official.
In an effort to pressure Hamas, Israel has severed all supplies of goods to Gaza and, on Sunday, discontinued the remaining electricity supplies from Israel to the territory. The Israeli military campaign has rendered almost the entire population of Gaza displaced, resulting in the deaths of 48,500 people, predominantly civilians, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The initial six-week phase of the ceasefire saw the exchange of 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others, in return for the release of approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Additionally, the ceasefire allowed for the re-entry of essential supplies, such as food, shelter, and medical assistance, into Gaza.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/14/hamas-says-it-will-free-israeli-us-hostage-in-potential-breakthrough-in-ceasefire-talks
