Hamas has expressed willingness to release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza, according to a statement broadcast Sunday on the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa Channel.
"We are open to releasing American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of the talks to end the war in Gaza," a Hamas source told the channel on Sunday afternoon. Alexander, 21, a lone soldier from New Jersey, was kidnapped on Oct. 7 from the Kisufim outpost after volunteering to stay at the base while others left for a weekend at home. He is among the 79 hostages still held in Gaza according to Israeli authorities.
United States Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler told Fox News that recent discussions with Hamas representatives have shown promise. "They were very productive talks. They identified some opportunity to come together," Boehler said. "My goal is to release prisoners. I focused on our alive American [Edan] Alexander and our four dead Americans, to bring them home as soon as possible," he added.
Boehler outlined Hamas' position regarding a potential end to the conflict: "Hamas did orient toward a long-term truce – where we will ensure they can't hurt Israel."
When questioned about whether these talks legitimize Hamas, Boehler acknowledged the complexity of the situation. "It's hard. I know exactly what happened. You have to block it out emotionally. As much as someone might smile or give me a coffee as we talk, it doesn't mean they didn't do what they do," he explained.
"Dialogue is very important – I follow the President of the US. Everybody said he couldn't go to North Korea – he sits with North Korea for real discussions. Dialogue doesn't mean giving millions or billions of dollars like the prior administration did, dialogue means hearing what someone wants and then identifying 'does it fit with what we want or not,' and then how can you get somewhere in the middle and not have a war... As he [the president] constantly says, he doesn't want war," Boehler continued.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Abdel Latif al-Qanua told Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid that the organization is receptive to any initiative aimed at "achieving Palestinian goals by compelling Israel to implement all conditions of the ceasefire agreement." He claimed Hamas had fulfilled its obligations in the first phase of the hostage deal.
"There is a need to compel Israel to move forward with negotiations on the second phase and bind it to all requirements of the first phase regarding the humanitarian protocol," al-Qanua stated. He suggested that Israel's planned delegation to Doha demonstrates they "have no choice but to negotiate."
The Hamas spokesman expressed confidence in Qatari and Egyptian mediation efforts, particularly regarding progression to the second phase of negotiations. He reiterated Hamas' demands: ending the war, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, humanitarian aid for Palestinians, beginning rehabilitation efforts, and releasing detained terrorists.
In a separate development, Hamas spokesman abroad Tahar al-Nunu confirmed to Reuters that senior Hamas officials had met with Boehler multiple times. According to al-Nunu, these meetings focused on releasing dual-citizenship hostages, with Hamas approaching negotiations "positively and with flexibility."
Al-Nunu claimed the American side had not proposed removing Hamas from the Palestinian political arena during these meetings. "There were no American dictates, but discussions about entering the second phase of the hostage deal, implementing the agreement, and achieving regional stability," he said.
Meanwhile, a Hamas leadership delegation met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad in Cairo on Saturday to discuss ceasefire implementation. The delegation emphasized the need to implement all agreement conditions, immediately proceed to second-phase negotiations, open Gaza crossings, and restore unconditional aid.
The delegation also confirmed its support for establishing a community aid committee in Gaza composed of independent figures pending reorganization of Palestinian governance and elections.
