Hamas said on Friday it plans to release the last living American hostage from Gaza.
Hamas claimed it plans to release 21-year-old Edan Alexander of New Jersey alongside the bodies of four other Americans who died while being held captive by Hamas. Hamas made the statement while it negotiates with Israel on the next phase of a ceasefire agreement. The terror group did not say when the release would take place, according to the New York Post.
There are 59 hostages still held in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Hamas’ claim to release Alexander came after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff introduced a new proposal to extend the ceasefire this week after the special envoy joined negotiations in Qatar. The proposal would extend the ceasefire by another month and included a release of hostages by Hamas and prisoners by Israel. It also included Israel lifting a two-week blockade on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.
Witkoff appeared to dismiss Hamas’ claims about releasing Alexander in a joint statement with the United States National Security Council.
“President Trump has made it clear that Hamas will either release hostages immediately, or pay a severe price,” the statement said, according to Fox News. “On Wednesday evening in Doha, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and National Security Council Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa Eric Trager presented a ‘bridge’ proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.”
“Under the ‘bridge’ proposal, Hamas would release living hostages in exchange for prisoners in accordance with previous formulas; the phase-one ceasefire would be extended to enable the resumption of significant humanitarian assistance; and the U.S. would work towards a durable solution to this intractable conflict during the extended ceasefire period,” it continued. “Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this ‘bridge’ would have to be implemented soon – and that dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately.”
“Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire,” the statement said. “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not.”
Recently released hostages have reported that Alexander is still alive, though he is being held in alarming conditions. According to reports, Hamas is holding Alexander in a tunnel without sunlight. The New Jersey native appeared to be severely malnourished and starving, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Alexander was also taken captive while in his Israel Defense Forces uniform and, as a soldier, treated much worse than civilian hostages. He has been repeatedly tortured during interrogations, according to reports.
Witkoff said on Thursday that securing Alexander’s release is a “top priority” for the United States.
“Edan Alexander is very important to us. He is wounded, and he is a top priority. I hope we see good behavior [from Hamas] next week and that I can get [to Qatar] and have good talks,” Witkoff said.
