Hamas said Tuesday that after an Israeli strike it had "lost contact" with the captors of an Israeli-American hostage in Gaza, whose release reportedly takes center stage in Israel's latest proposal for a renewed ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza Tuesday, his office announced, as the military kept up the offensive it resumed on March 18, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire.
Speaking to troops, he said Hamas would continue to "suffer blow after blow".
In a statement on Telegram, Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas's military wing the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said: "We announce that we have lost contact with the group holding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct strike on their location."
"We are still trying to reach them at this moment," he added.
The military wing later released a video addressed to the families of the remaining hostages, warning them that their loved ones were likely to return in coffins if Israel kept up its bombardment of the territory.
Over video images of masked militants carrying black coffins out of white vans in the darkness, the video carried a subtitled message in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
"Be prepared. Soon, your children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart by shrapnel from your army's missiles," the message warns.
Hamas's armed wing released a video on Saturday showing Alexander alive, in which he criticized the Israeli government for failing to secure his release.
Alexander appeared to be speaking under duress in the footage, making frequent hand gestures as he criticized Netanyahu's government.
AFP was unable to determine when the video was filmed.
Alexander was serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border when he was abducted by Palestinian militants during their October 2023 attack.
The soldier, who turned 21 in captivity, was born in Tel Aviv and grew up in the U.S. state of New Jersey, returning to Israel after high school to join the army.
Hamas said on Monday it had received a new truce offer from Israel that foresees the release of 10 living hostages, starting with Alexander, in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire.
A Hamas official said the Israeli proposal called for Alexander's release on the first day of the ceasefire as a "gesture of goodwill".
It was delivered to the group's delegation in Cairo by Egyptian officials over the weekend, and a senior Hamas official told AFP the group would "most likely" respond within 48 hours.
Another Hamas official said Israel had also demanded that the Palestinian militants disarm to secure an end to the Gaza war, but said this crossed a "red line".
Out of 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack, a total of 58 remain in captivity, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
In northern Gaza, Netanyahu told troops, "They are striking the enemy and Hamas will continue to suffer blow after blow. We insist that they release our hostages, and we insist on achieving all of our war objectives."
French President Emmanuel Macron told Netanyahu in a telephone call Tuesday that only a ceasefire in Gaza could free the remaining hostages.
Saying the suffering of Gazan civilians "must end", he called for "opening all humanitarian aid crossings" into the Palestinian territory.
Israel has cut off all aid to the Gaza Strip since March 2 to pressure Hamas.
The United Nations has warned that Gaza's humanitarian crisis is spiraling out of control, with no aid having entered the territory for a month and a half.
"The humanitarian situation is now likely the worst it has been in the 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
Macron angered Israel last week when he suggested Paris could recognize a Palestinian state during a United Nations conference in New York in June.
Netanyahu's office said he told Macron on Tuesday that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be a "huge reward for terrorism".
© 2025 AFP
15 Comments
Tamarama
Yeah, well this is a little like holding a knife whilst being confronted by a serial killer, who says to you 'Put the knife down, I won't hurt you.'
More influentialWorld leaders need to show Humanitarian statesmanship and openly state this. It's the only solution. Bravo, Mr Macron.
No, it's required to protect the Palestinian people from you, mate. To stop you killing them. That's what it's about.
NB
Israel and the Jewish nation are trying to fight for their survival.
WoodyLee
""Hamas said Tuesday that after an Israeli strike it had "lost contact" with the captors of an Israeli-American hostage in Gaza,""
Probably a sign of relief for Bibi who could care less.
WoodyLee
Israel and the Jewish nation are trying to fight for their survival.
They are NOT fighting, there is NO ONE at the other end to engage and fight with only Civilians and that's why the IDF has ZERO Casualties.
The IDF is slaughtering Civilians to pressure the leave their land and that's is exactly what is happening.
GuruMick
Hundreds of ex Mossad agents protesting for an end to hostilities in Israel.
Even more former IDF doing the same.
Netanyahu has his eyes on things that dont include hostage return
NB
What about Hamas? Don't they strive and act to terminate Israel and the Jews?
GuruMick
1/ Maldives no longer allowing Israeli passport holders to enter.
This island nation was a favoured surf spot for Israeli surfers
2/The incident involving the shooting of red crescent workers being re investigated by IDF.
Interesting report on Aussie news site, usually conservative and pro Israel being very openly critical of Israels actions and prior statements.
I can see why claims of "antisemiticism " are being falsely ramped up by Jewish lobby.
Israel has lost the PR war
Aly Rustom
Good.
That's right. And they know it.
GuruMick
Israeli surfers in Sri Lanka reportedly upsetting locals with bad surf etiquette , running illegal businesses for Israeli visitors and generally being a nuisance.
Some incidents of Israeli , ex IDF reservists , ganging up and attacking locals.
Looks like that surf destination soon to be lost to Israel.
Indonesia, as well, has put visa restrictions on Israeli tourists, restricting individual entry in favour of pre booked tours.
Malaysia has a long standing ban on Israeli passport holders.
Looks like a good time to visit Asia !
GuruMick
Lesson to be learned would be....dont come in large groups, walk around like your poop dont stink and learn how to surf in the time honoured way when travelling as a visitor.
GuruMick
I also wondered about Israeli relations in the ME....I know that generally it is not good, but I wondered about Egypt and Jordan, and whether Israel facilitates good inter relations with these countries.
I wonder because, my feeling is that Israel really doesnt see itself as a ME place, but a white Euro outpost with ties , not to its neighbours, but to countries a long way away, like European nations and the USA.
I would be happy to be corrected on this observation and even happier if one could see Israel trying to mend fences and have cordial relations with its much older nation state neighbours.
NB
This is not a war between two "protagonists". This is a war wherein two nations are being killed by one group of terrorist barbaric madmen.
NB
The pro-Hamas propaganda PR machine is very prolific indeed.
NB
That is an interesting "justification" (actually it is a libel) for commiting massacre and rape.
GuruMick
If its not "antisemiticism " its a "libel " ?
What are the accepted parameters when one seeks to criticise Israel or Israeli people.?
I,m guessing everything is off limits ?