A Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group will release an American-Israeli citizen and the bodies of four additional hostages only if Israel implements the ceasefire agreement, describing it as an “unusual arrangement” to revive the ceasefire.
A high-ranking Hamas member, speaking to the Associated Press, added that the delayed talks on the second phase of the agreement must begin on the day of the release and cannot last more than 50 days. Israel must also stop hindering humanitarian aid deliveries and withdraw from the strategic corridor on the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt, the official said.
The Hamas would also demand the release of further Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to explain the talks behind closed doors.
Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in New Jersey, was taken from his military base during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war. He is the last living US citizen held in Gaza. The Hamas has still 59 hostages, of whom 35 are reportedly dead.
Meanwhile, nine people were killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, which the military described as fighters. A British humanitarian organization, however, denied this, stating that eight of its employees were killed. The Hamas called the attack a “grave escalation” that shows Israel is trying to “sabotage every opportunity to implement the ceasefire agreement”.