PM’s office: US says Hamas will release Edan Alexander ‘unconditionally,’ may lead to wider deal

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that the US has informed Israel that Hamas will release hostage Edan Alexander “without any compensation or conditions,” and as a gesture of goodwill to the US.

“The US conveyed to Israel that this move is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of additional hostages, based on the original Witkoff framework—which Israel has already accepted,” says the PMO in a statement, referring to a proposal by the US special envoy, which provides for the release of around half of the living hostages in exchange for an extended truce.

Israel is making preparations for the possibility that the additional hostage release will materialize, the PMO says, adding that “in accordance with Israeli policy, the negotiations will take place under fire, with a firm commitment to achieving all the objectives of the war.”