American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander launched by Hamas | EUROtoday

The final residing American held captive in Gaza has been launched in a transfer hoped to pave the best way for the return to ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

Edan Alexander, 21, was handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza on Monday afternoon and was later transferred to Re’im base in Israel by a particular Israeli army unit.

Fighting stopped at noon in Gaza after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel would pause its operations to permit protected passage for Mr Alexander’s launch.

Mr Alexander was held hostage for greater than 19 months within the Gaza Strip after he was taken from his army base in southern Israel throughout Hamas’ cross-border assault on 7 October 2023, which triggered the conflict in Gaza.

His launch is the primary since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March, unleashing fierce strikes on Gaza which have killed tons of.

It might open the best way to liberating the remaining 59 hostages held within the Gaza Strip after Hamas mentioned liberating him was a “good will” gesture.

Qatar and Egypt mentioned Alexander’s launch was an encouraging step in the direction of new truce talks. Israel will ship a delegation to Qatar on Thursday to debate a brand new proposal aimed toward securing additional hostage releases, Mr Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned.

But Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israel’s planning for an expanded army marketing campaign in Gaza will proceed, as certainly one of his coalition companions, nationwide safety minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, mentioned the conflict on Hamas should not finish and help shouldn’t be let in to the enclave.

Exiled Hamas Chief Khalil Al-Hayya earlier mentioned the discharge of the twin nationwide from New Jersey, was collectively coordinated by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.

“The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed-upon manner,” Hayya added.

Israeli forces invaded Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led assault on Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed 1,200 folks and noticed 251 taken hostage, in keeping with Israeli tallies.

Since then, greater than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, Palestinian well being authorities say, and enormous swathes of the enclave have been devastated.