Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage as part of efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire

GAZA, Palestine

Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who is believed to be the last living captive with US nationality in Gaza, as a part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.

The decision comes ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East on Tuesday. Hamas said it was also intended to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian aid. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for 70 days.

Earlier a senior Hamas official told our correspondent that the Palestinian armed group was holding direct negotiations with a US administration official in Qatar.

The Israeli prime minister's office said it had been informed by the US of the Hamas intention to release Alexander.

A senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that Hamas's announcement was intended as a goodwill gesture before Trump's arrival.

He said another meeting between Hamas and the mediators was scheduled for early Monday morning to finalise the process of Edan's release, which would require a temporary halt to Israeli military activity and a suspension of aerial operations during the handover.

President Trump confirmed Alexander's release in a post on Truth Social, calling it "monumental news" and "a step taken in good faith".

Born in Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, 21-year-old Alexander was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants during the 7 October attack.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 59 remain in the enclave, up to 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Five of the hostages in Gaza are believed to be US citizens and Alexander was thought to be the only one still alive.

In its statement, Hamas said the release was part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire and allow food, medicine and other supplies into Gaza - which has been under a complete blockade by Israel for 70 days. The group said it wanted to reach a final agreement to end the war.

The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement that it had been informed by the US of the Hamas intention to release Alexander "as a gesture towards the Americans" and that the move was expected to lead to negotiations on further hostages.

Israel's policy was that negotiations would be conducted "under fire, based on the commitment to achieve all of the objectives of the war", it added.

The Families and Missing Families Forum campaign group said Alexander's release "must mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that will secure the freedom of all remaining hostages".

They said President Trump had "given the families of all the hostages hope" and urged Netanyahu to now "bring everyone back".

Hamas has in the past said it will only agree to a deal that includes the end of the war, something that has been repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Egypt and Qatar also released a joint statement saying that Hamas agreeing to free Alexander was an "encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table".