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

The Hamas violent radical said Saturday that it volition lone merchandise Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander if Israel implements the existing ceasefire statement successful the Gaza Strip.

Alexander, 21, is the past surviving American hostage successful captivity successful the Gaza Strip.

A elder Hamas authoritative told the Associated Press that long-delayed talks over the ceasefire’s 2nd phase would request to statesman the time of the merchandise and past nary longer than 50 days. Israel would besides request to stop barring the introduction of humanitarian aid and retreat from a strategical corridor along Gaza’s borderline with Egypt.

Hamas called it an "exceptional deal" aimed astatine getting the truce backmost connected track, per the official, who spoke to The AP connected information of anonymity.

A pistillate holds an representation of hostage Edan Alexander during the Global Day of Unity and Prayer with Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the relatives of those taken captive by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7 attack. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

AFTER TRUMP THREAT, HAMAS REFUSES TO RELEASE MORE HOSTAGES WITHOUT PHASE 2 CEASEFIRE DEAL

Hamas is besides demanding the merchandise of more Palestinian prisoners in speech for hostages, the authoritative said. 

Hamas connected Friday agreed to merchandise Alexander on with the bodies of 4 different hostages pursuing a woody offered by mediators. He has present been held captive for 526 days arsenic of Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

It comes arsenic talks are ongoing successful Qatar to found the adjacent signifier of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the archetypal signifier of which ended connected March 1.

The bureau of Steve Witkoff, peculiar envoy to the Middle East, and the National Security Council said successful a associated connection that "President Trump has made it wide that Hamas volition either merchandise hostages immediately, oregon wage a terrible price."

Witkoff and Eric Trager, National Security Council elder manager for the Middle East and North Africa, presented a ‘bridge’ connection to widen the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover and let clip to negociate a model for a imperishable ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene his ministerial squad connected Saturday to person a elaborate study from negotiators and determine connected the adjacent steps for the merchandise of the hostages.

President Donald Trump is seen posing with a photograph of Edan Alexander connected Oct. 7, 2024 successful New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a fig of rallies are expected to instrumentality spot passim Israel connected Saturday to request that each remaining 59 hostages are released, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said. The main rallies volition instrumentality spot successful Tel Aviv, Sha'ar HaNegev Junction, Carmei Gat and Jerusalem.

Though helium spent astir of his beingness successful New Jersey, Alexander was calved successful Israel a fewer months earlier his parents moved to the U.S., according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

After graduating from precocious school, Alexander decided helium would enlist successful the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alternatively than enroll successful college.

On Oct. 7, Alexander, who was serving successful the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit, was patrolling adjacent Gaza erstwhile Hamas’ attacks connected Israel began. The attacks ended with 1,200 Israelis dormant and 251 hostages taken, including Alexander.

Hamas terrorists instrumentality up positions up of a hostage merchandise successful Deir al-Balah, cardinal Gaza Strip, Saturday Feb. 8, 2025. (AP)

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Yael Alexander, Edan’s mother, recounted the time helium was taken hostage successful a caller interrogation with AJC’s "People of the Pod." Yael was successful Israel successful aboriginal October 2023, visiting her household and hoping to spot Edan. On the greeting of Oct. 7, she spoke with Edan, who said that helium was seeing "terrible stuff," but helium assured her that helium was safe. Then helium was taken hostage.

On Nov. 30, 2024, much than a twelvemonth aft Alexander was captured, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking successful Hebrew and Arabic. Alexander, similar different hostages forced to marque propaganda videos, delivered messages astir Netanyahu and then-President-elect Donald Trump.

Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Trey Yingst, Rachel Wolf and Stephen Sorace, arsenic good arsenic The Associated Press, contributed to this report.