Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 12 (Xinhua) The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on the 11th that it would release a detained person with dual nationality of the United States and Israel, and said it was ready to start intensive negotiations immediately.

　　Qatar and Egypt, the mediator of the Pakistan-Israel conflict, issued a joint statement on the same day, praising Hamas' decision as "encouraging." Israel emphasized that any negotiations in the future "will advance in artillery fire."

  On April 24, Palestinians were waiting to receive free food at a distribution point in Gaza City. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Mahmoud Zaki)
Hamas expresses positive

　　Hamas said in a statement on the evening of the 11th that he would release the detained Aidan Alexander. However, the statement did not disclose the exact time of release.

　　Alexander, who has dual nationality between the United States and Israel, is 21 years old and grew up in New Jersey, USA. He is an Israeli soldier. He is considered to be the last living U.S. citizen to be held in the Gaza Strip.

　　Hamas said in a statement that as part of the efforts made by the mediators to achieve the ceasefire by implementing the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement, Hamas has contacted the U.S. government in the past few days. The release of Alexander will be part of an effort to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, open border ports, and allow aid to be delivered to the people in the Gaza Strip.

  On April 24, Palestinians received free food at a distribution point in Gaza City. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Mahmoud Zaki)
　　Reuters quoted a source as saying on the 11th that representatives from Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Hamas held direct talks from the four sides.

　　Khalil Haya, a senior Hamas official, said on the 11th that Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye have made joint efforts to promote the release of Alexander.

　　Hamas said in a statement that it was ready to start intensive negotiations immediately and do its best to reach a final agreement to stop the war, exchange detained personnel, and manage the Gaza Strip by an independent, professional committee to ensure that the region remains calm and stable for years to come, while rebuilding and ending the lockdown.

  The photo released on April 21 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (Photo provided by the IDF)
Israel is fighting while talking

　　Regarding Hamas' decision, Qatar and Egypt said in a joint statement on the 11th that it was an "encouraging step" toward the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip. The two countries will continue to work together with the United States to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip and promote a permanent ceasefire in the area.

　　US President Donald Trump thanked all relevant parties on social media on social media on the 11th for General Alexander's release. Adam Burrell, the U.S. President's Hostage Envoy, said on the same day that the U.S. also called on Hamas to hand over the bodies of four other deceased people who have died in the United States.

　　However, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on the 11th saying that according to Israel's policy, any future negotiations will be carried out in artillery fire to achieve all war goals.

  On April 19, thick smoke came out of a site where Israeli air strikes were airlifted in Gaza City. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Mahmoud Zaki)
　　The statement said that Alexander's release was a gesture Hamas showed to the United States and was expected to lead to negotiations on the release of the remaining detained personnel based on the ceasefire plan proposed by US Special Envoy for the Middle East. Israel has previously agreed to the plan and is preparing for the possible implementation of the plan.

　　On the same day, German Foreign Minister John Wadefur said during a visit to Israel that the conflict in the Gaza Strip cannot be resolved through military means and a political solution to permanently end the conflict must be found.

　　Wadfur told media reporters that he is not sure whether Israel's strategic goals can be achieved through military operations or whether military operations are conducive to Israel's long-term security, "that is why we call for serious negotiations on the ceasefire issue." (Zheng Haoning)

[Editor in charge: Xie Yan and Liu Zhongling]