Following US President Trump’s visit in the Middle East this week, an EU spokesperson welcomed today the release of Idan Alexander, a hostage with dual Israeli – American citizenship, from Hamas captivity.
He was released after 584 days in captivity since the attack on 7 October 2023 and returned to Israel on Monday evening as a gesture of goodwill by Hamas without any demands for exchange of convicted Palestinian security inmates in return.
Alexander was handed over from Hamas to the Red Cross in Khan Yunis, without any ceremony as in previous releases, and in civilian clothes although he had been captured as a soldier. He had reportedly been held shackled hand and foot in a cage in a tunnel and been interrogated under torture by Hamas. "He is a little pale but he is on his feet,” commented his father.
Hamas reportedly made this gesture to Trump after secret contacts with the American administration, as part of the on-going efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the arrival of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The release was not coordinated with the Israeli government – which is planning to expand a ground operation in Gaza - for fear that it would have put obstacles in the way.
Hamas is said to have expressed willingness at this stage for a partial deal that would include the release of ten hostages, half of those still believed to be alive, but wanted the US to provide guarantees for an end to the war at the end of the process.
Until now, the Israeli government has refused to end the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was obliged to thank Trump for his “help” in bringing about the release of Alexander, was quick in ensuring his far-right partners in the government that he would only agree to a previous American proposal for a partial release of hostages and a temporary cease-fire.
According to unconfirmed Palestinian sources, Hamas has also said that the issue of the organization's disarmament is no longer a major obstacle in the negotiations, because there is not much left in its arsenal anyway and no weapons can be smuggled into the Gaza Strip. If that would be accurate, the terrorist organisation could be ready to be transformed to a political entity “the day after”.
“We reiterate our call on Hamas to release all hostages immediately and unconditionally,” said Anour El Anouni, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy. “We do hope that the release of Alexander will be a first step in achieving the only viable solution." He added that High Representative Kaja Kallas has been clear that a ceasefire needs to be implemented and lead to a permanent end to the hostilities.
Asked for a comment, Claudio Francavilla, Associate Director of EU Advocacy Human Rights Watch (HRW), said that taking hostages is a war crime and they should be released immediately and unconditionally. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should be granted immediate and unfettered access to all places of detention.
The same goes also for the thousands of Palestinian prisoners that are arbitrarily detained (under emergency ordinances dating back to the British mandate). ”They should be either charged and granted a fair trail or released immediately.”
He stressed that humanitarian aid should not be conditional. “Safeguarding the basic rights of the Palestinians in Gaza is Israel’s obligation under the 4th Geneva Convention and also required in the rulings of the International Court of Justice. Humanitarian aid must flow in – ceasefire or not, hostages/prisoners release or not. Starving two million people is a crime, not a legitimate conduct of war.”
