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Hamas said on Sunday that he would release an Israeli-American hostage held in Gaza as a gesture of goodwill for Donald Trump, ahead of a visit to the Middle East this week by the US president.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said the measure to release Edan Alexander was taking over talks with US officials, where the Palestinian militant group showed a “high level of positivity” in an attempt to provide a ceasefire with Israel and end the Gaza war.
Alexander “will be released as part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire … and allow the entry of aid and humanitarian relief to our people in the Gaza belt,” Hayya added.
In a post on social media, Trump said: “This was a step in good faith in the United States and the efforts of intermediaries – Qatar and Egypt – to put an end to this very brutal war and the return of all the hostages and remains for their loved ones.”
One US official said Alexander could be released as soon as Monday, and an informed diplomat about talks with Hamas confirmed the deal to release it after America was directly engaged with the militant group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel had been informed of the release from the US, and there were no “conditions or nothing in return” attached to him.
The informed diplomat for the talks confirmed that Alexander’s planned release was not yet part of a wider ceasefire with Israel, and that the Israelis were not expected to issue Palestinian prisoners who keep them in prison.
But Israel was expected to stop his offensive in Gaza during the issuance, as brokers continue with efforts to issue a new ceasefire agreement.
The previous agreement was overthrown in March after Netanyahu ordered a resumption of the Israeli Defense Forces offensive in Gaza in an attempt to pressure Hamas in the release of the hostages it holds. Israel has also interrupted all aid for Gaza, intensifying a humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Alexander, 21, was captured by Hamas while serving in the Israeli army during the group’s cross -border attack on 7 October 2023, which caused the war.
Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel that day and received a further hostage, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 people, officials said in Hamas -controlled territory.
A total of 59 hostages are still held by Hamas, more than half of whom are believed by Israel to be dead, including four double Israeli-American nationals. Alexander is thought to be the last living Israeli-American held by Hamas.
Adam Boehler, the US Special Prophet to respond to the pledge, said Alexander’s planned release was the result of a “extraordinary effort from the US” and that “President Trump was traveling to the region and wanted to do it”. He added that Alexander would be released on Monday.
“It is a positive step forward and we will also demand that Hamas leave the bodies of the four other Americans who were taken,” Boehler said.
Trump is expected to start a multi-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week.
US, Egyptian and Qatar mediators have tried for weeks to revive the stalled talks between Israel and Hamas, and to provide a new ceasefire.
Netanyahu has repeatedly refused to meet Hamas’s essential demand to end the war in exchange for all the remaining hostages, pledging last week to expand the military campaign in Gaza until the group was completely defeated.
The Israeli prime minister said earlier this month that while bringing the pledge home was a “very important purpose” in the war, “the ultimate goal is to victory over our enemies.”
In his statement on Sunday, Netanyahu confirmed that the release of Alexander of SH.BA
Israeli officials last week said that the end of Trump’s regional visit provided a “opportunity window” for Hamas to release more hostage before Israel expanded his new offensive in Gaza.
This may include control of the reception of the entire Gaza IDF and the postponement of most of its people 2.2 million in a land south in the south of the territory.
“The talks will be kept under fire, based on the commitment to achieve all the objectives of the war,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
