The situation escalated as Hamas accused Israel of disrupting communications with the group holding Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier, following an airstrike. The attack, part of Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, reportedly targeted the location where the hostage is believed to be held.
Hamas Claims Loss of Contact with Hostage Following Israeli Strike
Hamas Claims Loss of Contact with Hostage Following Israeli Strike
Hamas reports losing contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage, amid escalating conflict and failed ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida announced that contact was lost after the strike, although no evidence was provided to support this claim. Israel maintains it avoids strikes on locations where hostages may be present. Edan Alexander, who has been featured in recent videos pleading for his release, was captured during a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in significant fatalities and the abduction of numerous individuals.
The Israeli government had proposed a ceasefire agreement suggesting Alexander's release as a "goodwill gesture" on the first day of a new 45-day truce, a proposal Hamas ultimately rejected, citing Israel's demands to disarm the group without any mutual commitments to cease hostilities. As of now, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, and after renewed military action from Israel, a rising death toll continues to concern the international community.
Born in Tel Aviv but raised in the United States, Alexander’s family has voiced criticism towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the handling of the hostage situation and the lack of progress in negotiations. According to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 51,000 deaths since its onset.
The Israeli government had proposed a ceasefire agreement suggesting Alexander's release as a "goodwill gesture" on the first day of a new 45-day truce, a proposal Hamas ultimately rejected, citing Israel's demands to disarm the group without any mutual commitments to cease hostilities. As of now, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, and after renewed military action from Israel, a rising death toll continues to concern the international community.
Born in Tel Aviv but raised in the United States, Alexander’s family has voiced criticism towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the handling of the hostage situation and the lack of progress in negotiations. According to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 51,000 deaths since its onset.
