Hamas to release American hostage, Israel calls it ‘psychological warfare’

Hamas said on Friday it agreed to release an American-Israeli dual national, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, after receiving a proposal from mediators to continue negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal.

Hamas said in a statement that it responded “positively” to the proposal that was presented on Thursday to resume negotiations. It will also release the bodies of four other dual nationality hostages, it said without giving further details.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Two Hamas officials told Reuters their agreement to release the American-Israeli hostage and the four bodies was conditional on beginning the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire, opening crossings, and lifting a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.

“We are working with mediators for the agreement to succeed and to compel the occupation to conclude all phases of the agreement,” Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua, the Hamas spokesperson, told Reuters.

Meetings between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler in recent days sought the release of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey, who served as a soldier with the Israeli military.