Hamas says Trump envoy promised lifting of Gaza blockade right after release of US-Israeli captive: Report

Drop Site News revealed on Friday that Hamas was promised by US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, that the crippling Israeli blockade of Gaza would be lifted 48 hours after the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander. 

Hamas released Alexander on Monday in what was seemingly a gesture of goodwill to Trump, without receiving Palestinians from Israeli prisons in return. 

The blockade has not been lifted, and according to Haaretz, ceasefire talks have stalled. 

"It was a deal" made by "Witkoff himself," Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, told Drop Site News.

“If we release [Alexander], Trump will speak out thanking Hamas for its gesture, obliging Israel on the second day to open the borders and allow aid to come into Gaza, and [Trump would] call for an immediate ceasefire and to go for negotiations to end the war," he added. 

“[Witkoff] did nothing of this,” Naim said.

“They didn't violate the deal. They threw it in the trash.”