Hamas warns delay in Gaza aid delivery after Alexander's release to hamper prisoner swap talks

Egypt Today

15-05-2025

CAIRO – 15 May 2025: Hamas said it expected humanitarian aid to enter Gaza immediately, based on understandings reached with the United States and communicated to mediators.
The group warned that a delay in this step could hinder a prisoner exchange deal.
In a statement on Telegram, Hamas expressed its anticipation of a call for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive negotiations on all issues aimed at achieving regional security and stability in line with these understandings.
The statement mentioned the recent release of Israeli-US soldier Edan Alexander, saying it was 'part of the Islamic resistance movement's commitment to alleviating the suffering of our people by halting the aggression and opening the crossings for humanitarian aid deliveries.'
'However, failure to implement these steps, especially the entry of humanitarian aid, will cast a negative shadow over any efforts to finalize negotiations on the prisoner exchange process.'
US President Donald Trump said his administration 'shares the hope of a future of safety and dignity for the Palestinian people,' as he addressed the US-Gulf summit, held in Riyadh on Wednesday#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/nn4Nlnkk7h — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 14, 2025
Alexander's release marked a significant day for both the US and Israel, following direct talks between Hamas and the US. He was reunited with his family on Monday after spending 583 days in captivity since October 7, 2023.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a newly formed US-backed aid group, announced today that it will begin aid deliveries to Gaza by the end of May, stating that Israel has agreed to resume aid after a blockade lasting over two months, according to media reports.
The GHF asserted that Tel Aviv has approved 'the flow of transitional aid into Gaza under existing mechanisms' until the construction of Safe Distribution Sites (SDSs) is completed, although this will take time.
The UN has shown reluctance to cooperate with the newly formed charity. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized the plan as a 'fig leaf for further violence and displacement' of Palestinians in Gaza.
Concerns have also been raised by Amnesty International regarding the legality of the foundation's operations and its potential complicity in Israel's occupation.
According to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, American plans aim to deliver food aid to Gaza's eligible populations without allowing it to fall into the hands of Hamas.
Since early March, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid bound for Gaza and resumed military operations two weeks later, shattering a ceasefire that had facilitated the release of dozens of captives and the entry of thousands of aid trucks.
The Israeli war in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 52,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, many of them women and children.