Ceasefire talks continue
\nIsrael blocked aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as Hamas called for mediation amid escalating truce tensions
\n Gaza
\nHamas 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.
\nHamas said in a statement that it responded \u201cpositively\u201d 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.
\nThere was no immediate comment from Israel.
\nMeetings 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.
\nPresident Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Alexander was a \u201ctop priority\u201d.
\nThe United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel to restart negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal in order to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza and facilitate the entry of aid into the war-torn enclave.
\nIsrael blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as a standoff over the truce escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
\nFighting in Gaza has been halted since January 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord. Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
\nThe second phase involves talks over an agreement for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave. Israel demands that Hamas free the remaining hostages without beginning phase two negotiations.
\nHamas 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.
\nHamas said in a statement that it responded \u201cpositively\u201d 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.
\nThere was no immediate comment from Israel.
\nMeetings between Hamas leaders and U.S. 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.
\nPresident Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Alexander was a \u201ctop priority\u201d.
\nThe United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel to restart negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal in order to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza and facilitate the entry of aid into the war-torn enclave.
\nIsrael blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as a standoff over the truce escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
\nFighting in Gaza has been halted since January 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord. Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
\nThe second phase involves talks over an agreement for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave. Israel demands that Hamas free the remaining hostages without beginning phase two negotiations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ceasefire talks continue Israel blocked aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as Hamas called for mediation amid escalating truce tensions Gaza 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-467071","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n