Individuals collect to look at a dwell broadcast of Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli twin citizen, as he’s launched from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at Hostage Sq. in Tel Aviv, Monday.
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TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas has launched U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, based on an announcement by Hamas and an Israeli official who spoke to NPR on situation of anonymity as a result of the official was unauthorized to talk publicly.
On Sunday, Hamas mentioned his launch could be a step towards reaching a ceasefire settlement with Israel after it had been holding talks with the U.S. for the final a number of days.
Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier raised in New Jersey, is believed to be the final residing U.S. citizen who had been held in Gaza by Hamas for the reason that Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. The our bodies of 4 different People are nonetheless held in Gaza, based on the U.S.
Throughout earlier hostage exchanges, Hamas has drawn criticism for placing on ceremonies and parading the hostages in public. This was not the case with Alexander, who was seen solely in {a photograph} posted by Hamas on the time of his launch. The image confirmed the captive flanked by three armed masked Hamas militants and a Purple Cross employee in Gaza.
As soon as in Israel, the navy mentioned Alexander was taken to a neighborhood hospital for medical evaluation.
President Trump posted on his social media platform that the discharge is a “step taken in good religion” to place an finish to the battle.
Hamas mentioned the discharge was a part of a ceasefire effort to open Gaza’s border crossings and produce support to Gaza. Israel has blocked all support together with meals and medical provides for greater than 10 weeks to strain Hamas to launch extra hostages. Humanitarian teams say it’s driving rampant starvation within the territory.
Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of freed U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, prays as she gathers with household and pals to look at the TV broadcast of his launch from Hamas captivity in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Monday.
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A Hamas official says the U.S. has made guarantees in return for hostage launch
A Hamas official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to talk publicly, advised NPR that the discharge was in return for unspecified gestures the U.S. promised.
The official hinted Hamas anticipated Israel would launch some Palestinian prisoners and guarantee some support into Gaza, and anticipated the U.S. to barter a broader take care of Israel that ensures the tip of the battle.
“The ball is now within the American and Israeli court docket. We gave the People what they requested for. They should get the opposite aspect to provide issues too,” the Hamas official mentioned.
Israel denies it should provide concessions in trade for hostage launch
A press release from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace on Monday mentioned that Alexander’s launch “with out something in return” is because of President Trump’s diplomacy and the Israeli navy’s strain in Gaza.
The assertion mentioned Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire in trade for Alexander’s launch.
Supporters of the hostages expressed frustration that the Israeli management has not achieved their freedom whereas the U.S. struck its personal take care of Hamas for the discharge of a U.S. citizen.
“Trump is doing a terrific job in sustaining and persevering with to get these hostages again, and I’m not certain what our authorities is doing to make sure the discharge of the hostages,” mentioned Maya Weinrich, a 27-year-old medical scholar and twin U.S.-Israeli citizen.
A lady holds a prayer card with the face of launched hostage Edan Alexander, as she gathers with family and friends to look at the TV broadcast of his launch from Hamas captivity in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Monday.
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Palestinians in Gaza praised President Trump
In Gaza Metropolis, Palestinian resident Awni Abu Kumail mentioned he understands why Hamas agreed to launch Alexander.
“Hamas desires to show to the U.S. that it is not the one holding up the ceasefire talks,” Abu Kumail mentioned.
“Trump has proven Israel that the US is stronger,” mentioned resident Ahmed Abu Hadid in Gaza Metropolis. “With out the U.S. there would by no means be any options.”
Hostage launch deal is newest U.S. sidestep of Israel
Alexander’s launch comes as Trump heads to go to Gulf international locations on Monday, in his first abroad journey throughout his second time period. He isn’t anticipated to go to Israel, however is anticipated to debate the way forward for Gaza with Arab leaders.
Netanyahu met with the U.S. president’s particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The prime minister’s workplace mentioned that an Israeli negotiations workforce will go away for Doha on Tuesday.
The U.S.-Hamas deal is the newest in a collection of main choices Trump has made within the Center East whereas sidestepping Israel’s management. These strikes embody U.S. nuclear talks with Iran, a truce with the Houthis in Yemen that didn’t assure the tip of Houthi missile assaults on Israel, and U.S. talks for a Saudi civilian nuclear program that will not be conditioned on Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel in return.
Earlier this yr, each Hamas and the U.S. confirmed that the 2 events had been holding direct talks beginning as early as January — in a significant shift in American coverage, because the U.S. had not engaged immediately with Hamas because it designated it a terrorist group in 1997. It has been a long-standing U.S. coverage to not negotiate with teams it designates as terrorists.
Qatar and Egypt — two international locations which have performed key roles in negotiation efforts between Israel and Hamas all through the battle, together with the U.S. — issued a joint announcement welcoming Alexander’s launch, calling it an “encouraging step” towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
A lady draped in an Israeli flag watches a dwell broadcast in Tel Aviv of Hamas’ launch of Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who returned to Israel from captivity in Gaza Monday.
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Scores of different hostages stay in Hamas captivity as Israel wages battle
There are 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, together with Alexander, greater than half of whom are believed to be lifeless, based on Israel. Hamas had launched 38 hostages in trade for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel underneath a ceasefire deal that started on Jan. 19. However Israel’s navy broke that ceasefire in March, after negotiations between the 2 events failed to provide an extension of the truce.
Israel has since gained management of a couple of third of Gaza’s territory, and has imposed an entire blockade on all support together with meals and gasoline, whereas persevering with a lethal and harmful air marketing campaign. Earlier this month it mentioned it deliberate to increase its offensive there.
Gaza well being authorities say greater than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli assaults on the territory for the reason that begin of the battle in October 2023. About 1,200 folks in Israel had been killed within the Hamas-led assaults that month and a few 250 folks had been taken hostage, based on Israel.
Daniel Estrin, Itay Stern and Carrie Kahn contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Anas Baba from Gaza Metropolis, and Abu Bakr Bashir from London.
