Gaza [Palestine], May 12: Hamas announced that it will release dual US-Israeli hostages and is in direct talks with Washington to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on May 11, Hamas said it would release Israeli soldier Edan Alexander (21 years old, also has US citizenship) as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire and reopen the border crossings for aid in the Gaza Strip.
According to AFP, the hostage 's family said they had been informed that soldier Alexander could be released in the next few days. He is believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas . According to US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, the White House will ask Hamas to return the bodies of four other Americans.
In a post on the social network Truth Social, US President Donald Trump also announced the above information and called it "symbolic news". "This is a goodwill gesture to the United States and the efforts of Qatari and Egyptian mediators to end this very brutal war and return all hostages alive and dead to their loved ones. Hopefully this will be the first of many final steps needed to end this brutal conflict", President Trump wrote.
Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement welcoming the new developments. The talks took place in the Qatari capital Doha, with Hamas revealing progress on a ceasefire and aid, possibly including an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the US had informed him that the release of Alexander would lead to negotiations for the release of additional hostages. However, Tel Aviv also stressed that any future negotiations would take place under fire with a commitment to achieving the entire objectives of the war.
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have taken place but have not brought a full end to the conflict. The US had long held back from openly negotiating directly with Hamas until it first announced it in March.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper