The US is the only country capable of forcing Israel to stop the war in the Gaza Strip. This opinion was expressed to the TV channel “Al Arabiya“ by the Vice President of Palestine Hussein Sheikh.
“The United States is the only country capable of forcing Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip“, he said, expressing hope that the radical Palestinian movement “Hamas“ will also take bold actions that will lead to an end to the war. “The Hamas movement is part of the people, it cannot be excluded from political life. Hamas must change its policies to become part of our political system,” Sheikh continued, assuring that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is in dialogue with the movement.
“The best way to establish a Palestinian state now is through peaceful resistance against Israel, not through armed struggle. We are negotiating with Israel to achieve our rights and establish our own state. Our priority is to ensure the security of the Palestinian people in their land“, the vice president stressed. “We will not accept any alternative to the Palestinian Authority’s rule in the Gaza Strip“, he said.
Since March 2, 2025, no humanitarian aid has been delivered to the Gaza Strip, and all crossings remain closed by Israeli decision. On March 18, the Israeli army resumed military operations in the sector, launching massive strikes.
Last night, "Hamas" said that Eden Alexander, the last surviving American hostage in Gaza, would be released as part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire, open border crossings to the Palestinian enclave and resume aid deliveries, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
However, the statement did not specify a specific date. It was made shortly before US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East this week.
Alexander is an American of Israeli origin, raised in the US and serving in the Israeli army. He was kidnapped from his base on October 7, 2023, in an unprecedented attack by "Hamas" against Israeli territory that led to the start of the war in Gaza.
The leader of "Hamas" in Gaza, Khalil al-Haya, said that the group had been in contact with the US administration in recent days. "Hamas" is ready to "immediately begin intensive negotiations" to achieve a long-term ceasefire that includes an end to the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for hostages held in Gaza, and the transfer of power in the strip to an independent team of technocrats.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that Eden Alexander, who has dual US and Israeli citizenship and is being held by the Palestinian armed group „Hamas“ in Gaza for more than 580 days, will be released, DPA reported.
“I am happy to announce that Eden Alexander [...] will be returning home to his family“, Trump wrote on his social platform “Truth Social“, calling it “monumental news“.
“This is a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators - Qatar and Egypt - to end this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and the remains of their loved ones“, Trump wrote.