US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday the release of hostage Edan Alexander, who is being held captive by Hamas.
On his social media, the president wrote that he was "pleased to announce that Edan Alexander, a US citizen held captive since October 2023, is returning home to his family."
A "safe corridor" will be established in the Gaza Strip for Edan Alexander's release, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid shared on X/Twitter, citing an Israeli official.
"This would mean that Israel would implement a temporary ceasefire in certain areas of the Gaza Strip," Ravid wrote on Monday.
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US Vice President JD Vance noted in a statement on X/Twitter that he was praying for Hamas to follow through with Alexander's safe release.
ReplyDelete"If they [Hamas] do, it will have been another triumph of Steve Witkoff, who continues to face withering attacks for freeing hostages, negotiating complex diplomatic proposals, and serving his country (at great financial cost)."
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) expressed mild skepticism at the media reports, but said that he was happy to see an American citizen come home.
Egypt and Qatar called the decision of the Palestinian Hamas movement to release an Israeli hostage, who also has US citizenship, "an encouraging step" in terms of the prospects for resuming negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
ReplyDelete"The Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar welcome the announcement by Hamas of its agreement to release the American hostage, Edan Alexander. <…> This constitutes a goodwill gesture and an encouraging step toward the parties' return to the negotiation table to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, secure the release of hostages and detainees, and ensure the safe and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to address the tragic conditions in the Strip," the statement says.