Hamas says it is prepared to release American-Israeli hostage and bodies of four dual nationals

CNN — Hamas said it is prepared to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and the bodies of four dual nationals held hostage in Gaza. “The movement responded with responsibility and positivity, submitting its reply at dawn today, which included its approval to release Zionist soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four others with dual nationality.” Late Friday night, the group provided further details on its conditions for the releases, saying it was “based on the three-phase ceasefire deal signed by all parties on January 17, 2025.” Releasing Alexander and the other hostages, it said, was conditioned on Israel abiding by terms laid down in a multi-phased ceasefire agreed by the parties in January, including releasing Palestinian prisoners, allowing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza-Egypt border, and starting negotiations on “phase two” of a ceasefire – which Israel has resisted. In a statement Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “while Israel has accepted the Witkoff outline, Hamas remains steadfast in its refusal and has not budged a millimeter.” “At the same time, it continues to engage in manipulation and psychological warfare,” it said, adding that the prime minister will convene with his team on Saturday night for “a detailed report from the negotiating team, and to decide on the next steps for the release of the hostages.” Israel alleged that Hamas rejected a proposal put forth by Witkoff last week, which sought to extend a ceasefire in Gaza over the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and Jewish Passover holiday, without a commitment by Israel for a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu’s office had called it “the publication of the brutal psychological warfare video in which an important and exciting sign of life was received from Edan.” Alexander’s father, Adi, told CNN Tuesday that they had seen the video, and that Alexander was “just holding up.” “He is there, and he is alive, and just waiting patiently,” Adi said, adding that the family knows “he’s not in a great condition.” “He lost a lot of weight, maybe suffer some injuries on October 7, because he was brutally attacked by more than more than 20 militants,” he said, describing his son as “an all-American kid.” The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum has criticized prioritizing the release of captives based on their nationalities, and called for the freeing of all hostages regardless of the passports they hold.