Hamas to release American hostage in Gaza, ready for second-phase ceasefire talks

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release an American-Israeli dual national, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, after receiving a proposal from mediators to resume negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal.

Hamas said in a statement that it responded "positively" to the proposal presented on Thursday to restart the negotiations. It will also release the bodies of four other dual nationality hostages, it said without giving further details.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Two Hamas officials told Reuters their agreement to release the American-Israeli hostage and the four bodies was conditional on beginning the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire, opening crossings, and lifting a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.

"We are working with mediators for the agreement to succeed and to compel the occupation to conclude all phases of the agreement," Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua, the Hamas spokesperson, told Reuters.

Meetings between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler in recent days sought the release of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey who served as a soldier with the Israeli military.

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Alexander was a "top priority".

"Hamas's approval to release Edan Alexander aims to push towards the conclusion of the phases of the agreement," said Qanoua.

Fighting in Gaza has been halted since January 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord, during which Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

But when the first phase expired on March 2, the sides failed to agree the start of the second phase. Israel offered to extend the first phase, while Hamas had said it would resume releasing hostages only under the second phase, during which Israel is required to discuss troop withdrawal and a permanent end to the war, major demands of Hamas.

Israel blocked the entry of all supplies trucks into Gaza on March 2 as the standoff escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.

The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to bridge the differences between the Islamic militant group and Israel to restart negotiations for the second phase in order to release remaining hostages held in Gaza and lift the blockade.

Hamas carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip since then has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and reduced much of the territory to rubble.