Hamas Declares Readiness to Free US-Israeli Soldier and Four Deceased Hostages
The Hamas organization announced on Friday that it is prepared to negotiate a deal that would see the release of 20‐year‐old IDF soldier Edan Alexander along with the remains of four hostages—all of whom held dual citizenship. According to this proposal, the swap would be part of broader prisoner release terms.
A statement issued just hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath revealed that Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office indirectly dismissed the offer. The administration confirmed that while Israel had accepted a recent proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas has stood firm on its demands and continued employing psychological strategies during these discussions.
Hamas explained that it received a negotiation outline from its mediator contacts the previous day and responded early in the morning. The group affirmed its full readiness to enter negotiations and secure a comprehensive agreement for the forthcoming phase, calling for Israel to fully honor its commitments.
In contrast, the Prime Minister’s Office stressed that despite Israel’s agreement with the Witkoff outline, Hamas has neither altered its stance nor shown any flexibility. A senior Israeli official noted that Hamas’s so-called offer to release hostages with American citizenship appears designed solely to derail negotiations through manipulation. The official emphasized that throughout the process, Israel has maintained a policy against providing preferential treatment to dual citizens.
Additional sources have indicated that the proposal recently discussed included plans for the release of five living hostages in conjunction with several deceased ones. However, Israel has maintained demands for the release of eight living captives, asserting a firm negotiating position. A diplomatic correspondent pointed out that despite recent talks, it is essentially the proposal prepared by Witkoff that remains under consideration.
Recent developments have also seen figures like Adam Boehler, who previously engaged directly with Hamas, being removed from the core negotiations. Concurrently, Hamas has stipulated new terms for Edan Alexander’s release, which involve an increased number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel.
A forum representing families of hostages reiterated that any progress toward releasing a limited number of captives should serve as the initial step toward securing the freedom of all remaining hostages. The forum warned that a selective approach could compromise longstanding values and undermine the broader goal of complete hostage recovery.
While reports indicate that the families of Alexander and the deceased hostages remain uninformed about the latest developments, earlier communications included a video in which Alexander pleaded with Israeli leadership to prioritize the negotiations. Born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, Alexander chose to serve as a lone soldier upon his return to Israel, and was abducted from a military post on October 7, 2023.
His relatives continue to reside in the United States, with his mother having visited him just days before he was taken captive.
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