INTERNACIONAL
Hamas agrees to release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage
Hamas agreed Friday to release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, will be released along with the bodies of four other hostages, according to a deal offered by mediators. As of Friday, Alexander has been held captive for 525 days, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.
The bodies that will be released are of dual-national hostages, the Associated Press reported. It’s unclear when the transfer will happen, but it comes as talks are ongoing in Qatar to establish the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the first phase of which ended on March 1.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Friday that he will convene his ministerial team on Saturday to receive a detailed report from negotiators and decide on the next steps for the release of the hostages.
MEET EDAN ALEXANDER, THE LAST LIVING AMERICAN HOSTAGE IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY
Edan Alexander, born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, is currently being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. (Hostage Family Forum)
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, presented to Israel and Hamas a U.S. proposal for extending the ceasefire by several weeks in exchange for more hostage releases from Hamas and the resumption of humanitarian aid into the war-torn Gaza Strip, Axios reported Thursday, citing sources with direct knowledge of the plan.
«While Israel has accepted the Witkoff proposal, Hamas remains firm in its refusal and has not moved an inch,» Netanayhu said Friday. «At the same time, it continues to employ manipulations and psychological warfare.»
Last week, Witkoff told reporters outside the White House that «Edan Alexander is very important to us as all the hostages are.»
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Fox News on Friday that «a delegation from the Hamas movement’s leadership received a proposal from mediators yesterday to resume negotiations, and responded responsibly and positively.
«The movement submitted its response early this morning, agreeing to release… Edan Alexander, who holds U.S. citizenship, along with the remains of four others with dual citizenship,» Naim added. «We reaffirm our full readiness to engage in negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase, and call for obligating the occupation to fully implement its commitments.»
Though he spent most of his life in New Jersey, Alexander was born in Israel a few months before his parents moved to the U.S., according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
After graduating from high school, Alexander decided he would enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rather than enroll in college.
Yael Alexander, the mother of hostage Edan Alexander, speaks during The ‘Run for Their Lives’ rally and run in Central Park on the 100th day since the October 7 attack by Hamas, on Jan. 14, 2024 in New York City. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
On Oct. 7, Alexander, who was serving in the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit, was patrolling near Gaza when Hamas’ attacks on Israel began. The attacks ended with 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 hostages taken, including Alexander.
Yael Alexander, Edan’s mother, recounted the day he was taken hostage in a recent interview with AJC’s «People of the Pod.» Yael was in Israel in early October 2023, visiting her family and hoping to see Edan. On the morning of Oct. 7, she spoke with Edan, who said that he was seeing «terrible stuff,» but he assured her that he was safe. Then he was taken hostage.
On Nov. 30, 2024, more than a year after Alexander was captured, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking in Hebrew and Arabic. Alexander, like other hostages forced to make propaganda videos, delivered messages about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-President-elect Donald Trump.
AFTER TRUMP THREAT, HAMAS REFUSES TO RELEASE MORE HOSTAGES WITHOUT PHASE 2 CEASEFIRE DEAL
Donald Trump, is shown photos of Edan Alexander by his mother Yael Alexander at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch on Oct. 7, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
A few days after the video’s release, Adi Alexander, Edan’s father, spoke with «Fox & Friends First,» calling the film «very emotional» and «disturbing.» He said it was the first time they had seen a sign of life from their son since he was taken hostage.
Trump warned Hamas earlier this month to «Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.»
«A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!» Trump said.
Donald Trump is seen posing with a photo of Edan Alexander on Oct. 7, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Friday that it «wholeheartedly welcomes the return of every hostage — whether they come home for rehabilitation or burial.»
«The return of any number of hostages must only be the beginning of an immediate and comprehensive deal to secure the release of ‘all hostages,’» it added. «As President Trump has assured our families and the world, and as he has stated time and again, the return of all hostages is a top priority for his adminsitration. His commitment to bringing our loved ones home has given us hope during this darkest of times.
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«As of today, 59 hostages remain,» the group also said. «We pray every single day for a deal that brings every one of them home, immediately.»
Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Trey Yingst, Rachel Wolf and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
El exgerente del Banco Central canadiense Mark Carney prestó juramento como el nuevo primer ministro de Canadá el viernes, y ahora intentará guiar a su país a través de una guerra comercial provocada por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump, una amenaza de anexión y unas elecciones federales esperadas.
Carney, de 59 años, reemplaza al primer ministro Justin Trudeau, quien anunció su renuncia en enero, pero permaneció en el poder hasta que el Partido Liberal eligió a un nuevo líder. Se espera ampliamente que Carney convoque a elecciones generales en los próximos días o semanas.
El Partido Liberal en el poder parecía estar preparado para una histórica derrota electoral este año hasta que Trump declaró la guerra económica y amenazó con anexar todo el país como un 51er estado de Estados Unidos. Ahora el partido y su nuevo líder podrían salir victoriosos.
Carney ha afirmado que está listo para reunirse con Trump si éste muestra “respeto por la soberanía canadiense” y está dispuesto a adoptar “un enfoque común, un enfoque mucho más integral para el comercio”.
Trump impuso aranceles del 25% al acero y aluminio canadienses y está amenazando con aranceles generales sobre todos los productos canadienses a partir del 2 de abril. Ha amenazado con coerción económica en sus amenazas de anexión y sugirió que la frontera es una línea ficticia.
La guerra comercial de Estados Unidos y los comentarios de Trump sobre convertir a Canadá en el 51er estado de Estados Unidos han enfurecido a los canadienses, quienes abuchean el himno estadounidense en los partidos de la NHL y la NBA. Algunos están cancelando viajes al sur de la frontera, y muchos evitan comprar productos estadounidenses cuando pueden.
El aumento del nacionalismo canadiense ha fortalecido las posibilidades del Partido Liberal en unas elecciones parlamentarias que se esperan en días o semanas, y los resultados del Partido Liberal han mejorado en las encuestas de opinión.
Carney, quien navegó la crisis al frente del Banco de Canadá desde 2008, y luego en 2013 cuando se convirtió en el primer no ciudadano británico en dirigir el Banco de Inglaterra —ayudando a gestionar los peores impactos del Brexit en el Reino Unido— ahora intentará guiar a Canadá a través de la guerra comercial provocada por Trump.
Carney, un exejecutivo de Goldman Sachs sin experiencia en política, se convierte en el 24to primer ministro de Canadá.
“Le irá muy bien. Es respetado internacionalmente”, dijo el ex primer ministro Jean Chrétien a los periodistas el viernes. Pero, añadió: “No hay una solución mágica. Esta no es una situación normal. Nunca hemos visto a alguien que cambia de opinión cada cinco minutos como presidente de Estados Unidos. Crea problemas en todas partes, no solo en Canadá”.
INTERNACIONAL
Israel faces new Syria challenge as it adjusts to new strategy amid regional power struggle for influence
TEL AVIV — The Israeli Air Force on Thursday struck the headquarters of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Damascus, Syria, amid ongoing instability in the country following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by an al Qaeda-linked insurgency.
After the fall of Damascus on Dec. 8, 2024, Israel deployed troops to the demilitarized buffer zone with Syria while also launching a diplomatic offensive to shape the balance of power.
«The deployment of Israeli forces is concentrated around the Syrian [side of Mount] Hermon, the high grounds in that area and below that on the northern part of the Syrian Golan Heights — more or less along, but not beyond, the Bravo Line [marking the end of the buffer zone],» Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF spokesman and now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
EVANGELICAL LEADER SAYS US MUST PROTECT SYRIAN CHRISTIANS FROM ATTACKS BY JIHADI TERRORISTS
The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, visited and conducted a situational assessment in the Area of Separation in Syria. (IDF)
He continued, «The primary threat is a ground invasion towards Israeli communities on the Golan Heights by various jihadi elements. Until the political and military situation stabilizes and Israel can have security guarantees that there is indeed a sovereign entity in control of Syria, which will limit the approach by various terror organizations, Israeli troops will be deployed.»
While many global players may be willing to turn a blind eye to the carnage in Syria in hopes of resolving the nearly 15-year crisis, analysts say Israel has no such illusions, prompting the IDF to conduct over 300 strikes in the country, including against Assad regime air force bases and suspected chemical weapons sites, in the immediate aftermath of the regime change.
On Sunday, Israel seemingly upped the ante when the new IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, held a situational assessment in the buffer zone with Syria. Zamir was the first chief of staff to have entered Syria.
«Immediately upon the fall of the regime, [Israel] devastated Syrian military capabilities to make sure some advanced capabilities and air defense [systems] would not fall into the hands of this regime and would be cleared in case Israel has any future desire to overfly [in] Syria,» said John Hannah, a Senior Fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).
Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government ride in the back of a vehicle moving along a road in Syria’s western city of Latakia on March 9. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
«They’ve [also] set up checkpoints in certain Druze areas right on the border [and] declared their willingness to protect the Druze. Israel has a significant Druze minority of its own who are loyal and good citizens of Israel who fight in its army. So, Israel has a deep domestic concern and interest with making sure that Druze communities near its borders [in Syria] are not subject to the kinds of threats and slaughter that we saw over the weekend along the [Syrian] coast,» he added.
RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER IN SYRIA SHOWS NEED FOR US, EUROPE TO ‘KEEP A CLOSE EYE’ ON ISLAMIST REGIME: GREEK FM
Some 1,000 Alawites, a minority sect of Shiite Islam, as well as a number of Christians were murdered over the course of a few days last week in the coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia. The killings have laid bare concerns over the new Sunni Islamist government led by al-Sharaa, commander of the al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that deposed Assad.
A banner depicting then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin and reading «Justice Prevails» is displayed along a highway in the Syrian capital of Damascus on March 8, 2022. (Louai Beshara/AFP via Getty Images)
Conricus said that the massacres have validated Israel’s strategy, emphasizing that the persecution of the Alawites, Christians, Kurds and Druze population constitutes a danger to regional stability.
«There is a lot of sectarian violence by various foreign jihadi groups, which is a threat. Until only the Syrian state controls the weapons, Israel cannot jeopardize the life of Israeli civilians,» he said.
«We know Hezbollah and Iranian factions continue to try to smuggle weapons into Syria, with Tehran still trying to operate proxies. This is compounded by Turkish imperialistic behavior, which can lead to confrontation,» he added. «I think trying to keep the borders defined by the French at the end of World War I will be a challenge for the Syrian state.»
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION SEEKS TO REIN IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY OVER TIES TO US FOES
Ahmed al-Sharaa Hayat, former al Qaeda terrorist and current Interim President of Syria, in Idlib, Syria, on the border with Turkey on Feb. 7, 2023. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
Jonathan Spyer, director of research at the Middle East Forum who has reported from Syria, told Fox News Digital that Jerusalem’s aim is for Syria to remain decentralized and weak, rather than united under the leadership of jihadi forces.
«Turkey is the main backer of HTS, and Israel regards Ankara as a hostile country where Hamas had an active operations office. Turkey has been supportive of Hamas in the war,» he said.
«While Russia is opposed to the global bloc led by the U.S., of which Israel is a part, there is no direct clash between the two nations. Russia did not seek to impede Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran in Syria.»
Israel is reportedly pressuring the Trump administration to ensure Syria remains fragmented, by giving the Russians a green light to maintain its bases in the country to counter Turkey.
People wave guns in the air as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
In 2015, Russia intervened in Syria on behalf of the Assad regime, setting up outposts in the Middle East for the first time since the end of the Cold War. Jerusalem and Moscow have created a deconfliction mechanism to avoid direct military encounters when the IDF strikes Iranian terror assets in Syria, along with those destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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«HTS is an organization that Israel knows well. It was there for several years prior to fall of Assad and its record shows it is a Sunni Jihadi Islamist organization supportive of [Hamas’] Oct. 7 [massacre] and opposed to Israel and Jews,» Spyer said.
«Israel’s experience prior to Oct. 7, on Oct. 7, and in the Gaza war taught Israelis not to have illusions regarding Sunni Islamists even when they say they are moderate,» he added.
INTERNACIONAL
Guerra en Ucrania: Trump «clama encarecidamente» a Putin que salve la vida de miles de tropas ucranianas «rodeadas»
El posteo de Trump comienza diciendo que su equipo tuvo «conversaciones muy buenas y productivas con el presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin», el jueves, en alusión al encuentro con el enviado de Trump Steve Witkoff en Moscú.
En ese encuentro a puertas cerradas, Putin habría comunicado a Witkoff lo que ya había advertido en una rueda de prensa más temprano: que aceptaba la tregua de 30 días acordada entre Ucrania y Estados Unidos, días atrás, pero «que había mucho trabajo por hacer».
A esa aclaración, Putin habría agregado una serie de imposibles condiciones para Kiev, como quedarse con parte del territorio ucraniano ocupado.
En su posteo, Trump luego se refiere a las tropas ucranianas «rodeadas», probablemente en la región rusa de Kursk, donde las fuerzas del Kremlin han estado avanzando contra las fuerzas ucranianas.
A pesar de que el presidente estadounidense se refiere a «miles» de tropas aisladas, es poco probable que este sea el caso, aunque es cierto que los ucranianos están perdiendo su posición en Kursk, una porción de suelo ruso que Kiev logró controlar meses atrás.
El jueves, la localidad de Sudzha fue recuperada por las fuerzas rusas. A principios de semana se vieron imágenes de las tropas ucranianas huyendo de esa ciudad clave.
En su mensaje Trump escribió: «EN ESTE MISMO MOMENTO, MILES DE TROPAS UCRANIANAS ESTÁN COMPLETAMENTE RODEADAS POR EL EJÉRCITO RUSO, EN UNA SITUACIÓN MUY MALÍSIMA Y VULNERABLE.
He solicitado encarecidamente al presidente Putin que se les perdone la vida.
Esta sería una masacre horrible, no vista desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
¡Que Dios los bendiga a todos!».
Donald Trump ha presentado su postura sobre la guerra como la de una figura humanitaria que quiere detener las matanzas, opinó Clarke.
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