Israeli-American hostages: living Edan Alexander and four dead bodies
The US appears to have brushed aside an offer made earlier on Friday by the militant Islamist organisation to free Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage who was abducted while serving as a soldier, in the Israel Defense Forces IDF during Hamas’s surprise raid into Israel in October 2023 and the remains of four other Israeli-Americans who have died in captivity in Gaza
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“Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire”
The reaction from the US dashed any hopes of sudden progress in continuing indirect negotiations in Qatar over the fragile ceasefire, in Gaza but will comes as a relief to the Israeli government
The initial phase of the ceasefire in the devastated territory came into effect in January 2025 but lapsed almost two weeks ago terroristsenjoying ceasefire for Free.... No hostages living or dead released
In recent statements, Hamas has said it wants Israel to implement the second phase of the ceasefire, which was supposed to definitively end the conflict
Israel has so far refused to, 1. move to the second phase 2. and is calling for an extension of several weeks to the first phase instead 3. leaving open the possibility of a new offensive in the months to come
