Hamas says American-Israeli hostage will only be freed if ceasefire is implemented

Hamas terrorist group said on Saturday it will only release Israeli-American Hostage Edan Alexander If Israel implements an existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

Alexander, 21, is the last living American hostage in the United States The Gaza Strip is imprisoned.

A senior Hamas official told the Associated Press that the long-term negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire need to begin the day the release will last no more than 50 days. Israel also needs to stop access to humanitarian aid and withdraw from the strategic corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.

According to officials, Hamas called it a “excellent deal” designed to bring the armistice path back on track, which spoke with the AP in anonymous manner.

Hamas refuses to release more hostages after Trump threats without a Phase 2 ceasefire agreement

Hamas also demanded the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, the official said.

Hamas released Alexander along with the bodies of four other hostages after agreeing to release the deal that Alexander had reached with the mediator on Friday. The Hostages and Missing Family Forum said he has been captured for 526 days as of Saturday.

With the ongoing negotiations in Qatar, the next phase of the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire is established, and the first phase of the phase ends on March 1.

Steve Witkoff’s office, envoy middle EastMoreover, the National Security Council said in a joint statement: “President Trump made it clear that Hamas will release the hostages immediately or pay a harsh price.”

Witkoff and Eric Trager, senior directors of the MENA National Security Council, proposed a “bridge” proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to call his team of ministers on Saturday to receive detailed reports from negotiators and decide on the next step in the release of the hostages.

Meanwhile, many rallies are expected to be held throughout Israel on Saturday, demanding the release of all the remaining 59 hostages, the Hostages and Missing Family Forum said. The main gatherings will be held in Tel Aviv, Sha’ar Hanegev Junction, Carmei Gat and Jerusalem.

Even though he has been in his life New JerseyAccording to the American Jewish Council (AJC), Alexander was born in Israel a few months before his parents moved to the United States.

After graduating from high school, Alexander decided that he would enlist in the IDF rather than attending college.

On October 7, Alexander served in the Golani Brigade (Infantry Force) of the IDF and was patrolling near Gaza when Hamas attacked Israel began. The attack ended with 1,200 Israelis and 251 hostages, including Alexander.

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Edan’s mother, Yael Alexander, recounted the day he was taken hostage in a recent interview with AJC’s “People of the Pod”. Yael visited her family in Israel in early October 2023 and hoped to meet Edan. On the morning of October 7, she talked to Edan, who said he saw “the scary thing” but he assured her that he was safe. Then he was taken hostage.

On November 30, 2024, more than a year after Alexander’s arrest, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking in Hebrew and Arabic. Like other hostages forced to produce promotional videos, Alexander conveys news about Netanyahu and the president-elect Donald Trump.

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Trey Yingst, Rachel Wolf and Stephen Sorace, and the Associated Press contributed to the report.