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Hamas has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that military pressure played a role in the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza on Monday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Palestinian group clarified that Alexander’s return was the result of serious negotiations with the US administration and the efforts of mediators, rather than Israeli military action or “the illusion of military pressure.”
“Hamas affirms that Netanyahu is misleading his people and has failed to secure the release of prisoners through aggression,” the group stated.
Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old US-Israeli national, had been held hostage in Gaza since October 2023. His release came after months of intense diplomatic efforts. Netanyahu, however, credited the release to a combination of “military pressure” and the political influence exerted by US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Trump for his assistance and announced that he had instructed a negotiating team to travel to Qatar to discuss the release of other hostages.
Trump, currently on a Gulf tour, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and is scheduled to visit Qatar and the UAE.
Hamas’s statement on Tuesday further emphasised that the return of Alexander was a result of “serious negotiations and a prisoner exchange deal” and reaffirmed the group’s position that diplomacy, rather than military aggression, is the key to ending the war and securing the release of hostages.
Since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Hamas has held 251 hostages. As of now, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 people confirmed dead by the Israeli military. The Israeli government broke a two-month ceasefire on March 18, escalating its airstrikes on the region.
