Armed wings of Palestinian group Hamas say they lost contact with the group holding Israeli prisoners of war in the Gaza Strip after “direct Israeli bombings” targeted the area where he was detained.
“The occupying forces seem to be intentionally trying to kill him, and therefore are releasing themselves from the pressure caused by dual-civil prisoners in order to continue the genocide against our people,” Qassam Brigade spokesman Abu Obeida said Tuesday.
On Saturday, Hamas released a video showing Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier from New Jersey and a 21-year-old soldier, is alive.
Alexander appears to be compulsive on the video, appealing President Donald Trump to drive him out of Gaza, urging the US president not to believe the “lies” spoken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In his latest statement, Abu Obeida did not say where Alexander was being held in Gaza. The group’s armed wings later released a video warning the prisoner’s video that said, “Children will return to black cows with bodies torn from rap shotguns from your army.”
Reported from Gaza city, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said that the Palestinians in the enclave believe the US is “interested” in securing Alexander’s release in a negotiated deal.
“They believe this will increase the pressure on the Israeli government to accelerate the process and reach an agreement,” Mahmoud said. “If it is confirmed that Alexander has been killed, the Palestinian group will lose what they hoped to become the lever of pressure on the Netanyahu government.
Hamas previously condemned Israel for the death of a prisoner of war in Gaza as a direct result of the artillery fire, but admitted that the prisoner was killed by security guards at least once. The guard said he acted against instructions.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told White House reporters in March that securing the release of Alexander was considered to be our last hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, but it was “a top priority for us.”
Alexander’s potential release was at the heart of a previous meeting held last month between Hamas leaders and US negotiator Adam Berer.
The “worst” humanitarian situation
The announcement said Netanyahu would ensure Israel would push military attacks in Gaza to secure the release of prisoners of war and praised troops during their devastated visit to the territory’s north.
“They are attacking the enemy and Hamas will continue to be hit after the blow. They insist on releasing our hostages and we insist on achieving all war goals,” Netanyahu told soldiers in Gaza, according to a statement from his office.
In a call with Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli leaders that the suffering of the Gaza people “must end” and that only a ceasefire could free the remaining Israeli prisoners of war.
Hamas released 38 prisoners of war under the final ceasefire agreement that began on January 19th. In mid-March, Israeli forces resumed their position and air attacks in Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire and reimposed a total blockade of Gaza.
Hamas condemned the ongoing lockdown, saying Israel is blocking entry of “all important items needed for life, including food, medicine, fuel.”
The UN also warns that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is out of control.
“The humanitarian situation is likely to be at its worst in 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities,” the UN Office for Humanitarian Cooperation (OCHA).
Israeli forces continued to bomb Gaza’s area on Tuesday, killing at least 21 people, according to Gaza’s civil defense.
More than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, since the Israeli attacks began in October 2023, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Israeli officials say the attack will continue until the remaining 59 prisoners are released and Hamas is demilitarized. Hamas has repeatedly rejected requests to abandon the weapons, claiming that hostages will be released only as part of a deal to end the war forever.
Israel issued a ceasefire proposal to Egyptians and Qatari mediators on Monday, offering a 45-day temporary ceasefire in exchange for Hamas’ firing and releasing 11 Israeli prisoners still held in Gaza.
Hamas has “study” the proposal in a statement, but Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuri told Al Jazeera before the release of an official statement that Hamas would not accept the demand for disarming.
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