March 29 (UPI) -- Hamas' leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, on Saturday said the terrorist group has agreed to release five hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander, as part of a 50-day cease-fire proposal from Egypt and Qatar.
The Hamas leader made the announcement in a speech, according to Al Jazeera, after media outlets, including CNN and The New Arab, reported the proposal put forth two days ago was approved.
Israel "conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the U.S.," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau said Saturday night, though it did not list specifics.
The truce would start over the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which begins Sunday and ends on Wednesday at the end of Ramadan. The five hostages would then be released after Passover, which runs April 12-20.
Alexander is a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen serving in Israel's army. He was abducted in Israel during the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed some 1,500 Israelis. He was born in Tel Aviv and grew up in New Jersey.
