The army wing of Hamas said on Saturday that the fate of Israeli-American hostages Edan Alexander was unknown after the group found the guardian who held the hostage killed.
It was after Hamas said on Tuesday that he had lost contact with a group of terrorists holding Alexander in Gaza.
The same day that Hamas claimed to lose contact with the terrorist holding Alexander, the terrorist group would have rejected the Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, according to the BBC.
The Al-Qassam brigades spokesman for Hamas, Abu Obeida, said the contact had been lost with them following a direct strike on their location.
Free up propaganda images only a few days before
Last week, Hamas published propaganda images that showed a sign of life from Alexander. His family only approved the publication of the video the next day.
In the video, Alexander blames the Israeli government and the US administration to “desert” him in Gaza, saying: “I collapse physically and mentally”.
Alexander is from New Jersey and 21 -year -old soldier in the FDI.
“We are trying to protect all hostages and preserve their lives … But their lives are in danger because of the criminal attacks of the enemy army,” said Obeida, reiterating an accusation that the FDI is to blame for the murder of hostages in the enclave.
Israel accused Hamas of having killed hostages under his custody.
“The prisoner’s fate (hostage) and the rest of the kidnappers remains unknown,” he added.
There was no immediate comment from the FDI on Hamas’ declaration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should make a statement later on Saturday.
Alexander’s release was at the center of previous talks organized between Hamas leaders and American hostage negotiator Adam Boehler last month.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told journalists in the White House in March that Alexander’s release, considered the last American hostage, owned by Hamas in Gaza, was an “absolute priority”.
Hamas has so far published 38 hostages under a brief ceasefire that started on January 19.
Israel resumed his offensive in Gaza in March after cease-fire talks were in a standstill, the two parties blaming each other for non-compliance with an agreement.
Israel says that his offensive in Gaza aims to release the 59 remaining hostages, while Hamas insists that it will only be free in the context of an agreement to end the war and rejected requests to lay down their arms.
