A senior official from Hamas has accused the United States of reneging on a deal that allegedly included a ceasefire and the lifting of the Gaza blockade in return for the release of American-Israeli IDF soldier Edan Alexander.
In an interview with Drop Site News on Friday, Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, claimed that Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, had made a direct promise during negotiations: that Washington would compel Israel to end its blockade of Gaza, allow humanitarian aid to enter, and that President Trump would publicly call for a ceasefire—all in exchange for Alexander’s release.
“It was a deal,” said Naim, emphasizing that the proposal was personally made by Witkoff.
Edan Alexander, who holds dual American-Israeli citizenship, was taken prisoner by Hamas on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israeli military. He was released last week following direct negotiations between Hamas and the U.S. government, bypassing Israel.
However, the promised ceasefire and humanitarian relief have not materialized. On Friday, Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, aiming, according to official statements, to take full control of the territory and forcibly displace the population from northern Gaza into a smaller southern enclave. The offensive has raised international alarm over fears that Israel may be laying the groundwork for a broader population expulsion from Gaza.
In parallel, reports surfaced Friday that the Trump Administration is in talks with Libya to potentially relocate up to 1 million Palestinians—a move that would signal tacit U.S. backing for the displacement strategy.
Since Friday morning, over 200 Palestinians have reportedly been killed amid the renewed Israeli assault, which includes intense aerial bombardment and ground incursions.
Naim’s allegations echo previous grievances by Middle Eastern leaders who say Washington has failed to uphold its diplomatic promises. Last year, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian revealed that Tehran refrained from retaliating after Israeli airstrikes on April 19 because U.S. officials had pledged to pressure Israel into a ceasefire—a promise that was never fulfilled.
The war in the region instead escalated further culminating when Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and much of the group’s leadership on September 27, followed by a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Iran responded on October 1 with direct military retaliation, marking a dramatic widening of the Middle East conflict.
The allegations made by Hamas raise serious questions about the credibility of backchannel diplomacy in the region, especially as humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate rapidly and international concern grows over the potential for mass displacement.