Hamas says aid flows must resume after US-Israeli hostage freed

Crowded tents in a temporary camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, on Monday, May 5, 2025. Israel's security cabinet voted to intensify military operations in Gaza and call up of tens of thousands of extra reservists, while also deciding on a means of distributing aid in the Palestinian territory. (From Bloomberg)

Hamas said it freed American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander based on an understanding with the US that humanitarian assistance would return to Gaza and negotiations to end the war start immediately.

“Failure to achieve these steps, especially the entry of humanitarian aid to our people, will have a negative impact on any efforts to complete negotiations on the prisoner-exchange process,” the Iran-backed group said in a statement on Telegram on Thursday.

Alexander, the last surviving US citizen to be held by Hamas, was released ahead of a Middle East tour by US President Donald Trump, who was expected to address efforts to end the 19-month conflict between the group and Israel in meetings with Gulf leaders. Trump’s trip took him on Wednesday to Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, though he left with no mention of significant developments.

“We’re working very hard on Gaza,” Trump said before leaving Qatar on Thursday, describing the Palestinian coastal enclave as “a territory of death and destruction.”

An Israeli delegation was also in Doha this week taking part in negotiations.

Israel blocked aid to Gaza shortly after the end of a ceasefire with Hamas in March, saying the militant group was seizing supplies. The United Nations says its 2 million-strong population is facing a humanitarian crisis, and world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the block to be lifted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he will order an all-out escalation to “finish the job” of destroying Hamas, and even the release of more hostages would only pause the campaign. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US and still holds 58 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks that triggered the conflict, with less than half believed to be still alive.

Israel is already stepping up attacks on Gaza. On Thursday, more than 100 Palestinians were killed in air strikes, the BBC reported, citing local health officials.

Israel said earlier this week that it accepted a Trump-proposed plan for aid distribution in Gaza, but few details have been released nor a date for its commencement.

Truce talks have stalled for weeks, with Hamas refusing to discuss the further release of captives unless Israel agrees to end the war and pull its forces out of Gaza. Israel says it will not agree to a permanent end to fighting with Hamas still armed and in control of the territory.