The US is pushing Hamas to launch Edan Alexander, the ultimate residing American being held in Gaza, as a part of direct talks with the fear group, the group mentioned.
Taher Al-Nono, a Hamas political adviser, confirmed experiences that the US was negotiating with the terrorists for the primary time in many years — with the group open placing to a deal to free Alexander, 21, a New Jersey native.
“A number of conferences have already taken place in Doha, specializing in releasing one among the dual-nationality prisoners,” Nono instructed Reuters on Sunday.
Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler, in the meantime, mentioned a broader cease-fire deal might be agreed “inside weeks” — ensuing within the launch of all hostages.
“We have now dealt positively and flexibly, in a method that serves the pursuits of the Palestinian folks,” he added.
The Hamas adviser prompt Alexander would solely be freed together with the opposite 23 hostages are are believed to be alive within the Palestinian enclave.
The primary section of the cease-fire settlement between Israel and Hamas has lapsed, however the conflict has not began once more. The 2 sides are at the moment working to strike and accord that may completely finish the conflict and ship all hostages again dwelling.
Nono mentioned he’s assured hostage envoy Adam Boehler and Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff will be capable to safe the implementation of section two.
The Trump administration has flagged Alexander as a “high precedence,” with Boehler talking immediately with Hamas negotiators with out prior discover to Israel, in keeping with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Boehler defended the talks on Sunday, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper that America is free to do what’s in its greatest curiosity and that Israel must make some compromises within the heated negotiations.
“We’re the USA. We’re not an agent of Israel. We have now particular pursuits at play,” Boehler mentioned.
“There’s sufficient there to make a deal between what Hamas needs and what they’ve accepted, and what Israel needs and it’s accepted,” he added.
Boehler additionally claimed that a big deal was within the works to free not simply Alexander, however all of the 59 hostages in Gaza — together with the our bodies of 35 hostages that had been killed there.
“One thing might come collectively inside weeks,” Boehler mentioned. “I assume there’s a deal the place they’ll get the entire prisoners out, not simply the Individuals.”
The specifics of the key talks between the US and Hamas stay unclear, with the present cease-fire in Gaza held collectively by an settlement to keep away from battling as long as negotiations are going down.
The important thing problem revolves round section two of the deal, which calls on either side to ascertain the situations for who will rule Gaza after the conflict.
Hamas, the present de-facto leaders who’ve ruled the Palestinian enclave since 2007, have rejected Israel’s name for the group to surrender their arms and any ambition to rule Gaza.
In the meantime, Israel refuses to totally withdraw from Gaza, looking for to regulate the enclaves southern border crossing with Egypt to halt the alleged stream of weapons.
With Submit wires
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