Hamas to release US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, bodies of 4 dual-national captives

CAIRO – 14 March 2025: Hamas announced on Friday that it has agreed to free American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander it took captive on 7 October and hand over the bodies of four other dual nationals still held in Gaza.

In a statement on Telegram, Hamas said that it approved the releases based on a proposal from mediators to resume negotiations. The movement stated it has approached the initiative “responsibly and positively.”

A total of 59 captives remains in Hamas's custody in Gaza following the 7 October attacks including at least 22 who are still alive. Edan Alexander is the only living captive among five Americans held by Hamas fighters in the enclave.

It is not yet clear when the captives will be released or whether the four bodies will belong to American captives.

Hamas is pushing for a transition to the second phase of its ceasefire agreement with Israel, which began on January 19, following the expiration of the first phase on March 1.

Under the first phase, Hamas released 38 captives, including eight deceased individuals, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The ceasefire has halted an Israeli war in Gaza that has killed more than 48,000 people, displaced the majority of the 2.3 million population, and devastated homes and vital infrastructure.

Under the deal, thousands of humanitarian aid trucks have arrived in Gaza to address crisis levels of hunger suffered by almost all residents and dozens of injured Palestinians and patients were moved to Egyptian hospitals.

Hamas has expressed its willingness to release all remaining captives in Gaza in one go in exchange for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as part of the second phase of the deal.

Hamas today reiterated its readiness to initiate negotiations leading to a comprehensive agreement on various issues related to the second phase, urging obligating Israel to fulfill its commitments under the deal.

Hamas's announcement comes while US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff presented an updated US proposal for an extension of the ceasefire by several weeks in exchange for the release of more captives from Gaza, Axios reported on Thursday, citing four sources with direct knowledge.

The report follows a meeting between Witkoff and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as minister of state at the Emirati foreign ministry in Doha on Wednesday.

A source told Axios that Israel gave a positive response to Witkoff’s proposal.

The US last week held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, marking a significant departure from the US longstanding policy of avoiding direct engagement with the movement.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy for captives Adam Boehler, who is responsible for negotiations with Hamas, described the talks as “very helpful,” asserting that a deal could be reached “within weeks.”