Hamas says it’s releasing last living US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, in effort to reach ceasefire in Gaza | World News

The Gaza based Hamas militant group has said that it will soon release the last Israeli-American hostage alive, Edan Alexander, in an effort to seek a ceasefire with Israel, resume the delivery of humanitarian aid and reopen the crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory, a senior Hamas official said on Sunday.
The Hamas official, quoted Reuters, did not specify the time for the release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli military who was born and brought up in US’ New Jersey, and was abducted Hamas during its surprise attack on Tel Aviv in October 2023. Reports suggest that the release would take place on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the development to Associated Press and said that Hamas has agreed to release Alexander, who was held hostage in Gaza, as a goodwill gesture toward Trump.

The US has conveyed to Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages according to the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted.
Israel is preparing for the possibility that this effort will be implemented.
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— Prime Miner of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 11, 2025
The announcement to release the last surviving American hostage held the militant Palestinian group comes at a time when President Trump is scheduled to visit the Middle East later this week. No hostage has been released Hamas since the ceasefire agreement was shattered Israel in March.

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“We would also ask that Hamas release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken,” said Trump’s special envoy Adam Boehler on the news of release of the US-Israeli hostage.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said “This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
Israel launched a retaliatory military campaign against Hamas after the latter attacked Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023 and killed 1,200 people while abducting another 251 as hostages in Gaza. Israel has killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and has devastated the Gaza Strip since then.
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