Hamas announced on Friday that it had agreed to release American Edan Alexander along with the bodies of four other dual US-Israelis who died in Gaza. The group did not provide more details about the agreement.
In a statement on the group’s Telegram channel, Hamas explained that the armed Palestinian group is willing to release “[E]dan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four other dual nationals.”
Alexander is believed to be the last living Hamas hostage with American citizenship. He was serving in an Israeli military unit near Gaza on October 7 when he was captured during the Hamas assault.
While the details of the agreement are unclear, CNN reported on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff had presented a proposal to the Qataris earlier this week that involved Hamas releasing Alexander. Under that agreement, the Israeli total siege of Gaza would be lifted and the ceasefire extended through Passover, April 20.
Since March 1, Israel has imposed a total blockade of Gaza, preventing food, fuel, medicine, and energy from reaching the Strip. International aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have condemned Tel Aviv’s siege as collective punishment and using deprivation as a negotiating tactic.
After Israel imposed the blockade, the UN warned food could run out within weeks.
On March 1, Israel and Hamas were scheduled to begin phase two of the three-phase ceasefire and hostage deal. However, Tel Aviv refused to complete the required withdrawal from Gaza, and demanded Hamas release the rest of its hostages without Israel agreeing to permanently end military operations in the Strip.
Hamas has called on Israel to abide by the initial agreement that would see the rest of the Israeli hostages released over the coming month in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and permanent ceasefire.
Tel Aviv appears prepared to have begrudgingly accepted Friday’s agreement, but warned the move is a ploy by Hamas. Netanyahu’s office said Israel had “accepted the Witkoff outline and showed flexibility,” but said that “Hamas is refusing and will not budge from its positions.”
“At the same time, it continues to use manipulation and psychological warfare — the reports about Hamas’ willingness to release American hostages are intended to sabotage the negotiations,” the statement added.
The release of the American captives follows direct talks between the US and Hamas last week. Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler met with Hamas officials, drawing the ire of Tel Aviv.
Axios reported that one of Netanyahu’s closest allies, Ron Dermer, spoke with Boehler in what officials described a “difficult” call. While Boehler downplayed the call in an interview with Fox News, behind the scenes he expressed his displeasure with Dermer’s attitude in the call.
Israeli outlet Yedioth Ahronoth said “Boehler was stunned by Dermer’s insolence and spoke about that in conversations with other people.”
Axios additionally reported that Netanyahu was angered over the engagement with the Palestinian group but was avoiding publicly attacking Trump.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute. He hosts The Kyle Anzalone Show and is co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Connor Freeman.
The zionists rant constantly about getting the hostages back, then when they do, Netanyahu complains about it. He wants violence.
The zionists will use any new contrived excuse to continue the bombings.
What do you suggest? Should Israel allow an openly genocidal group that illegally occupied Gaza to re-arm for the next barbaric attack? Or should they just leave Israel, and give Israel to Hamas and Iran? Please explain.
They should stop genocide, stop Apartheid, quit the racist colonialist ideology of Zionism that holds all the crimes committed in its name within itself. And they should either share the land with the Palestinians as equals or leave behind the 1948 borders to reside inside their own supremacist utopia amongst themselves and leave the Palestinians to run matters in their own state.
They should further immediately extradite Netanyahu and Gallant to the Netherlands to be locked up in Scheveningen, to be prosecuted by the ICC.
If they decide they cannot live with Palestinians, they should claim land inside Germany to create their own state surrounded by people who have for almost 80 years now left no opportunity unexplored to prove they support Zionism unquestioningly.
None of your ideas are going to happen.
They nevertheless should. I was asked what should happen. If there was any chance of this world answering to some sort of cosmic justice, be it God given or otherwise, with absolute certainty it also would.
Netanyahu, Gallant and Putin should be prosecuted by the ICC for their war crimes.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/498e35cca3239b616502c276498433a7d88a9cd761db6e1146c21025fc3126b8.jpg
What about Bush? Cheney? Clinton? Obama? Trump?
The Arab world, which persecuted its Jewish peoples for 1300 years ,and then expelled them all, can now take in all the Palestinians. Very fair.
“Should Israel allow an openly genocidal group that illegally occupied Gaza to re-arm for the next barbaric attack?”
Wow, project much?
1. Are you a psychiatrist? What medical school did you go to?
2. Clearly, your misconceptions overwhelm your perception of reality. Hamas is openly genocidal, in that it calls for the destruction of Israel. The original charter included openly anti-Semitic statements, claiming that Jews (not Israelis) were secretly planning to take over the world, and that all wars were their doing. They removed this language from their charter and described the 1967 borders as a starting point, but they indicated they still do not accept them.
Hamas is part of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is well-documented to have extensive contacts, support, and inspiration from Nazi government. Although the MB translated "Mein Kampf" into Arabic and it agrees with its conclusions, it is more focused on religious reasons rather than insane racial theories; but the conclusions are the same. That has not changed.
And yes, Hamas illegally occupies Gaza. That is basic international law. They conducted an illegal coup after Israel left Gaza. If you don't know the facts, then you should learn them before making uninformed comments.
And yes, the attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians was barbaric. If you don't understand that, then you have a basic deficiency in human dignity. I'm not a psychiatrist but I don't need a degree to determine that.
And whatever Israel does, will be 100 percent back by trump. Some of their actions might even be trump's idea, like trump idea to kick Palestinians out of Gaza.
If there is no talk of phase 2 then this is just basically an extension of phase 1 other than the American captives being involved. That means it's also an extension for Israel to continue to violate the ceasefire as they have been doing throughout phase 1. And when April 20th approaches Netanyahu will still be screaming that Hamas "will not budge from its position" which means Netanyahu will continue to refuse to negotiate further. Israel "begrudgingly accepted the deal" because of that. Hopefully something can happen between now and April 20th, but I sense a repeat of the phase 1 that had just ended. Only one side will have to abide by it.
While those "cease fire" deals or "peace negotiations" helped Palestinians somewhat, it was never done to bring peace or help Palestinians.
They get to eat, shelter and somewhat care for their sick and wounded for a few weeks. And it's an embarrassment to BB & Witkoff and their specious 'negotiations'.
Mar 8, 2025 On Women’s Day, Palestinian Women Fight for Survival Instead of Celebrating Achievements Gaza (Quds News Network)
As the world honors Women’s Day, Palestinian women in Gaza endure unimaginable suffering. Israel’s ongoing genocide and humanitarian crises have turned this day of celebration into a reminder of loss and pain for over one million women.
https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/on-womens-day-palestinian-women-fight-for-survival-instead-of-celebrating-achievements/
https://www.globalresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Palestine-Women.jpg
The people of Palestine were victimized by Hamas, who created a war which brought hell upon themselves for politica gain.
Actually, that is not correct when you know the actual history as this read will explain. The U.S. does this daily across the globe.
Jan. 24, 2009 *How Israel Helped to Spawn Hamas* Moshav Tekuma, Israel
Surveying the wreckage of a neighbor’s bungalow hit by a Palestinian rocket, retired Israeli official Avner Cohen traces the missile’s trajectory back to an “enormous, stupid mistake” made 30 years ago.
https://www.transcend.org/tms/2014/07/how-israel-helped-to-spawn-hamas/
Israel made the choice to respond the way they did. You can blame Hamas, but you know who did the massacre and they did it because they chose to do it. To continue to pretend that there was no alternative other than to act like sadistic barbarians is to continue to lie through your teeth.
Hamas showing its compassion-ability during Ramadan…!
… and true Islamic piety.
Nothing short of nuclear war will cure the Israelis of their lust for power, control, and hegemony in the ME – NOTHING.
And nothing will dislodge the Israeli Lobby from its death grip on the throat of US politicians.
Alexander is believed to be the last living Hamas hostage with American citizenship. He was serving in an Israeli military unit near Gaza on October 7 when he was captured during the Hamas assault.
Doesn't that make him a POW?