Hamas says it's able to free US-Israeli hostage, 4 bodies

Sara Gharaibeh and Dan Williams, Bloomberg News on Mar 14, 2025

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Hamas said it’s willing to release a living American hostage and four bodies of other dual nationals from Gaza, a surprise move the group said would advance ceasefire talks, though was treated with suspicion by Israel.

The Palestinian militant organization has agreed to free “Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four other dual nationals,” according to a statement on Friday. Hamas said the proposal is in response to one from mediators between the group and Israel — made up of Qatar, Egypt and the U.S.

Shortly after, Israel said in a statement that Hamas is engaging “in manipulation and psychological warfare,” without directly addressing the group’s announcement. There would likely be anger in Israel if there was a perception that American hostages — even ones with dual Israeli citizenship — were prioritized over others.

“The movement affirms its complete readiness to begin negotiations” about a ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas said.

The development comes almost two weeks after an initial Israel-Hamas truce period came to an end, without an agreement on whether or how it should be extended. That’s left the conflict in limbo, with Hamas still holding roughly 60 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks that triggered the war, about 25 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the leader will convene a ministerial team on Saturday to discuss a report from the government’s negotiators, according to a statement, and decide on the next steps for the release of the hostages.

Israel remains committed to the country’s war goal of destroying Hamas both as a governing and military entity, while the Islamist group wants Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza.

Hamas didn’t specify if the four dead hostages are American-Israeli. The main Israeli forum for the hostages’ families said there are that number of deceased American-Israeli captives in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has said that getting Alexander released is a priority. But while an American official recently held direct talks with Hamas — designated a terrorist organization by Washington and many other countries — the White House insisted it would not seek a deal favoring Alexander over the other hostages.

The direct U.S.-Hamas talks angered Israel, and Washington has since signaled there won’t be any more direct negotiations.

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Qatar this week to meet other mediators and Israeli negotiators. The U.S. is aiming to get all the remaining hostages released from Gaza and ensure the ceasefire that began in January does not collapse.