Hamas to release one living, four deceased American-Israeli hostages
Red Cross vehicles, carrying the bodies of four Israeli hostages, leave pickup point after Hamas hands over the bodies without a ceremony in Gaza on February 27, 2025. (AA Photo)
Hamas announced it will release one living American-Israeli hostage and the remains of four others who died in captivity in Gaza, in response to a proposal from mediating countries.
In a statement, Hamas said it received and positively evaluated a proposal from mediator countries Egypt and Qatar yesterday to restart negotiations.
In response to the proposal, Hamas will hand over Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who also holds U.S. citizenship, along with the remains of four U.S.-Israeli citizens.
The statement emphasized that Hamas is ready to begin negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire terms.
Background on negotiations
The first 42-day phase of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which took effect on January 19, ended on March 2.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government had blocked the second phase of negotiations that were supposed to begin on February 3.
Israel suspended all humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip on March 2 and cut off electricity supply to Gaza on March 9.
The Israeli negotiating team reportedly arrived in Doha, Qatar, on March 10 without authorization to discuss a permanent ceasefire.
Donald Trump’s Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff also participated in the negotiations.
Hamas had previously announced that ceasefire negotiations with mediating countries in Doha were progressing positively.
