Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that there will be no ceasefire in return for the release of a US-Israeli hostage, identified as Edan Alexander, who a source close to Hamas indicated could be freed as early as Monday.
On Sunday, Hamas announced its intention to release Alexander, a US-Israeli soldier held in Gaza, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the region. The group also disclosed that it is engaged in direct discussions with Washington regarding a ceasefire.
While no specific date was confirmed, a source familiar with the situation mentioned to AFP that the 21-year-old Alexander is “most likely” to be released either Monday or Tuesday, contingent on securing necessary field conditions.
Hamas has requested that American representatives facilitate a “halt to all Israeli military operations” to ensure a safe corridor for his transfer to the Red Cross. The source also noted that the militant group opted not to conduct a public ceremony for the handover.
In response, Netanyahu emphasized that “Israel has not agreed to any ceasefire or the release of terrorists, but only to a safe corridor that will facilitate Edan’s release.” He added that negotiations for a broader deal aimed at securing the release of all hostages would persist “under fire, amid preparations for an escalation in fighting.”
Hamas has linked Alexander’s potential release to ongoing efforts toward a ceasefire and the reopening of humanitarian aid crossings.
Trump, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, praised the developments as “monumental news” and a “good faith gesture,” expressing hope that this marks a critical step towards concluding the brutal conflict.
Egypt and Qatar, which, alongside the US, have mediated discussions between Hamas and Israel, welcomed this gesture, describing it as “an encouraging step toward resuming negotiations.”
Two Hamas officials earlier indicated to AFP that ongoing talks in Doha with US representatives have shown “progress.”
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued, with Gaza’s civil defense agency reporting at least ten fatalities from a recent strike on a school sheltering displaced individuals. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 individuals the Israeli military has declared deceased.
After a two-month ceasefire was concluded on March 18, Israel initiated a significant offensive in Gaza, intensifying its bombardment of the area and halting all aid to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.
Historically, Washington has refrained from direct engagement with Hamas, designated a terrorist organization, only beginning to do so in March.
Hamas continues to demand a resolution that concludes the ongoing war and, on April 18, rejected an Israeli proposition for a 45-day truce in exchange for a hostage-prisoner swap.
In their recent statement, the group expressed readiness to “immediately commence intensive negotiations” aimed at establishing an agreement to end hostilities, envisioning Gaza under a technocratic and independent administration.
Earlier this month, the Israeli government sanctioned an expansion of its military operations in the Gaza Strip, with officials indicating plans for a long-term presence in the area.
While ceasefire negotiations remain stagnant, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly supported a US initiative to restore aid to Gaza, which has been under complete blockade since March 2. This plan has faced significant international backlash for bypassing the United Nations and existing humanitarian organizations, with the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, asserting that its operations in Gaza cannot be replaced.
The 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official reports. The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported on Sunday that at least 2,720 people have died since Israel resumed its offensive, bringing the total death toll since the outbreak of war to 52,829.
