Adam Berer told Al Jazeera that he “doesn’t make any progress” with the ceasefire contract until release as Israel’s attacks continue.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Once Hamas releases all remaining prisoners, Israel’s attacks will end on Gaza, a hostage envoy for US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“If the hostages are released, we can tell you that the battle will soon end,” said Adam Bohler, the US special envoy for hostage response. “The day those hostages are released, the battle will end.”
Bowler’s comments on Wednesday came as at least 1,652 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli attacks resumed after the death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza reached 51,025 and the previous ceasefire that ended in March.
Despite Israel’s continued attack on the enclave, Bohler said the ball was in the Hamas courthouse.
“They can reach out to each other anytime,” he said from the White House lawn. “Hamas can finish this.”
Bowler added that Trump has made it clear that “nothing will go until all hostages are released.”
“All Step 1 has been released,” Boler said. “Step 2 let’s get a grasp of this day.”
He didn’t elaborate on what that “next day” would look like, but he briefly mentioned the massive Trump proposal to replace Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries.
Hamas says that more prisoners will be released only if a new agreement to end the battle is first reached. Such an agreement should include guarantees that it has previously proven non-starters, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Under the previous six-week ceasefire agreement, Hamas released a total of 33 prisoners of war held in Gaza in exchange for Israel’s increased humanitarian assistance to the release and release of Palestinian prisoners.
The second phase, agreed in principle, was for viewing the releases of all prisoners held in Gaza in exchange for the permanent end of the battle. The third phase was to see the release of all the prisoners of war and the implementation of reconstruction plans.
However, after Israel quickly renewed the attack and the first phase of the agreement was completed, negotiations collapsed. Beyond those killed, the UN says at least half a million Palestinians have been refuge in the latest round of combat.
Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the troops had completed the creation of a “security zone” between Rafa’s southern city and Khan Eunice. He added that Israeli forces will “hardly” expand operations in Gaza.
Israel estimates that 24 living prisoners remain in Gaza, all of which are believed to be male soldiers. The bodies of the other 35 prisoners are also believed to be still in the Palestinian enclave.
Edan Alexander
A baller who met directly with Hamas officials in March spoke to Al Jazeera after Hamas rejected a new Israeli ceasefire proposal asking the group to completely disarm the day before.
Hamas also claimed on Tuesday that “direct Israeli artillery bombardment” had lost contact with a group carrying Israeli prisoner Edan Alexander after targeting the area where he was detained.
Bowler is sure Alexander is in a safe place and dismisses the claim, saying Hamas is “silly” to cause harm to him.
If anything happens to Alexander, it will “better,” he added.
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