Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated there will be “no ceasefire” in return for the release of a US-Israeli hostage by Hamas, despite claims from a source close to the group suggesting the captive may be freed as early as Monday.
Hamas announced on Sunday that it plans to release Edan Alexander, a US-Israeli soldier held in Gaza, ahead of an upcoming visit by US President Donald Trump. The group also disclosed that it is engaged in direct discussions with the United States about a ceasefire agreement.
Though no exact date was provided, a source familiar with the matter told AFP that Alexander would “most likely” be released Monday or Tuesday.
“Most likely, Edan will be released today or tomorrow, Tuesday, but this requires securing field conditions,” the source said.
Hamas has called on US envoys to ensure a “halt to all Israeli military operations… to create a safe corridor” so Alexander can be handed over to the Red Cross.
The same source noted that Hamas does not plan to hold a public event for the soldier’s release.
Netanyahu responded by emphasizing that “Israel has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind or the release of terrorists but only to a safe corridor that will allow for the release of Edan”.
He also said that efforts to reach a broader deal to free all hostages would continue “under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting”.
Hamas previously linked Alexander’s release to “efforts towards a ceasefire” and the reopening of humanitarian crossings.
– Post-war administration –
Trump, who is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, praised the announcement as “monumental news” in a social media post and called it a “good faith gesture”.
“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict,” he said.
Egypt and Qatar, both acting as mediators alongside the US, also welcomed the development, calling it “a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table”.
Two Hamas officials had earlier told AFP that discussions with the US were ongoing in Doha and that there had been “progress”.
Despite the talks, Israeli airstrikes have continued. Gaza’s civil defence reported that at least 10 people were killed in an overnight airstrike on a school housing displaced civilians.
Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has declared dead.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18 after ending a two-month ceasefire and also halted aid deliveries, aiming to pressure Hamas to release hostages.
Washington, which had previously avoided direct contact with Hamas due to its terrorist designation, opened lines of communication in March.
– Aid plan –
Hamas has reiterated its position that any agreement must include an end to the war. On April 18, it turned down an Israeli offer for a 45-day truce and a hostage-prisoner swap.
In a statement on Sunday, Hamas said it was ready to “immediately begin intensive negotiations” toward a deal that would bring an end to the war and place Gaza under a technocratic and independent leadership.
Israel’s government, meanwhile, has approved a plan to expand its operations in Gaza, with some officials suggesting the military could maintain a long-term presence in the region.
Although ceasefire efforts have yet to achieve results, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday voiced full support for a US proposal to restore aid to Gaza, which has been under a total blockade since March 2.
This US-backed plan has drawn significant criticism for excluding the United Nations and established humanitarian groups. The UN’s refugee agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, said it was “impossible” for any other body to take over its role in Gaza.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel left 1,218 people dead, mostly civilians, based on AFP’s tally from official data.
Gaza’s health ministry reported on Sunday that at least 2,720 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive, bringing the overall death toll to 52,829.
What you should know
Prime Minister Netanyahu remains firm on rejecting any ceasefire tied to the release of hostages. As Hamas signals readiness to free Edan Alexander and pursue a wider deal, Israel continues its military push in Gaza, with ongoing strikes and rising casualties.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
