Share this @internewscast.com

Key Points
  • Hamas announced it would release a US-Israeli dual national hostage, as part of efforts toward a ceasefire.
  • Hamas said it had engaged in direct talks with the United States, marking a shift in US policy toward the group.
  • Hamas still holds 58 hostages from its October 2023 attack on Israel; Israel says 34 of them are dead.
Hamas said it would release a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza as the group revealed it was engaged in direct talks with the United States towards a ceasefire in the war-battered territory.
“Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US national, will be released as part of efforts towards a ceasefire” and the reopening of aid crossings, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear when 21-year-old Alexander would be released.

Previously, two Hamas representatives informed the AFP news agency that discussions were taking place in Doha, Qatar, with US involvement, indicating that “progress” was being achieved.

It comes as Israeli strikes continued, with Gaza’s civil defence agency reporting at least 12 people were killed over the weekend, including four young children.
One Hamas official, speaking of the talks with the US, said there was “progress made … notably on the entry of aid to the Gaza Strip” and the potential exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and those held under administrative detention in Israel.

A second official also reported progress “on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”.

Gaza militants hold 58 hostages seized during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that led to an escalation of the conflict, including 34, the Israeli military says, are dead.
Israel ended the last ceasefire, which lasted two months, on 18 March, launching a major offensive in Gaza and ramping up its bombardment of the territory.
It has also cut off all aid to Gaza, saying it would pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

This month, the Israeli administration also sanctioned efforts to intensify its military operations in the Gaza Strip, with talks of establishing a prolonged presence in the area.

What about diplomatic efforts to end the war?

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, have taken place since the early months of the escalation of the conflict without bringing it to an end.
The US had for decades refused publicly to engage directly with Hamas, which it labels a terrorist organisation, before first doing so in March.
Hamas has continued to insist on a deal that ends the war and on 18 April rejected an Israeli proposal for a 45-day truce and hostage-prisoner exchange.
In its statement on Sunday, the group said it was willing to “immediately begin intensive negotiations” that could lead to an agreement to end the war and would result in Gaza under a technocratic and independent administration.
“This will ensure calm and stability for many years, along with reconstruction and the end of the blockade.”

For the latest from SBS News, and .
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Flaming chunk of suspected space junk crash lands on WA mine site

Unmasking the Cosmic Intruder: Space Debris Crashes into Western Australia Mine

At around 2 pm local time (5 pm AEDT) yesterday, workers at…
Torrensville firebombing

Shocking Violence: Two Workers Burned in Suspected Tobacco Industry Conflict Escalation

Adelaide is witnessing a troubling surge in arson incidents targeting local businesses,…
First major test of ceasefire as Israel accuses Hamas of attack

Ceasefire Under Scrutiny: Israel Alleges Hamas Violation in New Tensions

Israel launched strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, responding to what it…
A passenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashed into a sand embankment and flipped on its side, killing 15 people, local authorities said on Saturday.

Tragic Bus Accident in Northeastern Brazil Claims 15 Lives, Sparking Safety Concerns

A tragic accident occurred in northeastern Brazil when a passenger bus collided…
Remembering Virginia Giuffre: The woman who helped bring down Jeffery Epstein

Metropolitan Police Investigates Allegations About Prince Andrew’s Inquiry Into Virginia Giuffre

London’s Metropolitan Police says it is “actively looking into” media reports Prince…
Stock image of Australian money - $100, $50 and $20 notes

Millions of Australians Acknowledge Financial Habits That Could Impact Their Retirement Savings

A recent survey has highlighted a startling revelation: approximately 6.2 million Australians…

David Littleproud Expresses Support for Barnaby Joyce to Remain with the Nationals

Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for Barnaby Joyce to remain with…
March for Australia rally in Melbourne. Photograph by Paul Jeffers The Age NEWS 19 Oct 2025

Melbourne CBD Protests Lead to Hospitalization of Police Officers

Victoria Police have reported that two officers required hospitalization following confrontations with…
Victoria Police Wayne Cheeseman rock protests Melbourne Australia

Premier Asserts Safety of Melbourne’s CBD Amid Recent Violent Incidents

In a turbulent Sunday event in the Central Business District, two police…
Missing Perth woman Michelle Leahy

Husband of Missing Perth Woman Issues Heartfelt Appeal for Her Safe Return

A WA family is desperately searching for answers after a much-loved mother…

Mitchell Marsh’s Candid Response on Test Cricket Comeback for Ashes: ‘I’ll Be Six Beers In

Following his exclusion from Australia’s Test cricket lineup during the Border-Gavaskar Series…
Coles Woolworths

New Legislation Targets Supermarket Price Gouging: Government Takes Action to Protect Consumers

The Federal Government is set to unveil new legislation aimed at curbing…