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Hamas mentioned it has handed over Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander to the Crimson Cross in Gaza forward of his launch to Israeli forces.
The trade was billed by the Palestinian militant group as a goodwill gesture to Donald Trump forward of the US president’s arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a go to to the area.
Alexander, 21, was seized by Hamas whereas serving within the Israeli navy through the group’s cross-border assault from Gaza on October 7 2023, which triggered the newest battle.
The Israeli navy appeared to halt most offensive operations in Gaza earlier on Monday in an try and safe the handover.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the discharge — secured straight between US officers and Hamas — didn’t embody any “circumstances or something in trade”.
Alexander is believed to be the final dwelling American nationwide nonetheless being held captive within the strip, alongside 58 different hostages. Israel believes greater than half of these to be useless, together with 4 twin Israeli-American nationals.
He could be the primary hostage to be launched since a earlier ceasefire-for-hostage deal led to March, after which Israel broke the truce with Hamas.
Israel’s offensive has killed greater than 52,000 folks because the conflict started, in line with native officers, with Israeli officers saying 1,200 had been killed through the October 7 assault and a few 250 taken hostage.
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