Father of Edan Alexander urges Washington to talk directly with Hamas

The father of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old 'Israeli'-American soldier held captive in Gaza, has urged the United States to open direct talks with Hamas to help secure the release of his son and other captives.

Edan was captured on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during the Hamas-led Operation Aqsa Typhoon that killed nearly 1,200 people in southern Israeli Occupation after around 16 years of the occupation's blockade on Gaza.

In an interview on Saturday, Adi Alexander, Edan’s father, said diplomatic efforts appeared to be stalling and called for a more direct approach from Washington.

“I think we should engage back with them directly and see what can be done in regards to my son, four American dead hostages and everybody else,” he told Reuters.

“It seems like the negotiations are stalled, everything is stuck and we are kind of back to a year ago,” he added. “It’s really concerning.”

Read more: Abu Obaida: Body of fighter guarding Edan Alexander recovered

Before Israeli Occupation violated the ceasefire in mid-March, Hamas had agreed to release Edan, believed to be the last surviving American captive, along with the bodies of four other Americans taken during the October 7 attack.

Earlier Saturday, the group’s armed wing said on Saturday it no longer knew Edan’s whereabouts, adding that the guard responsible for him was killed. 

Adi commented on a recently released undated video of his son, Edan: “He looked very scary to us — just a horrible, horrible video.” 

“If I could speak to him now, I would tell him: just believe,” his father said. “Nobody forgot about you. Definitely not your parents, and everybody is fighting for your release on the highest level in the States, and I believe also in Israel.”

Earlier Thursday, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said that the group is ready to release all remaining 'Israeli' captives in Gaza if Israeli Occupation halts its war on the territory.

He added, in remarks on Thursday, that Hamas is open to “comprehensive negotiations,” which would include a full 'Israeli' withdrawal from Gaza, the release of Palestinian detainees, the start of reconstruction, and an end to the blockade.

So far, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the aggression, according to local health officials.

Hayya welcomed recent comments by US envoy Adam Boehler, who linked the resolution of the captives’ file with ending the war — a stance Hamas agrees with.

Read more: Hamas says all captives will be released if 'Israel' ends war on Gaza