DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas announced on Sunday that Edan Alexander, the final American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, open crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory, and resume aid delivery. Two Hamas officials informed The Associated Press that the release is expected within the next 48 hours. This development, the first hostage release since a ceasefire was shattered by Israel in March, coincides closely with U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East this week. It underscores Israel’s willingness to invigorate ceasefire discussions amid growing desperation among hostage families and Gaza’s over 2 million residents living under the renewed Israeli blockade.
Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier from New Jersey, was kidnapped from his base during a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. The U.S. informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office of Hamas’ decision to release Alexander “without compensation or conditions,” with expectations that this step will pave the way for truce negotiations. Netanyahu’s government had been displeased with the U.S.’ direct talks with Hamas earlier this year, which led to a Hamas proposal to release Alexander and four other hostages if Israel reconfirmed its commitment to a stalled ceasefire agreement. However, Israel resumed hostilities shortly after.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, stated that the group has been in communication with the U.S. administration in recent days. Al-Hayyah expressed Hamas’ readiness to engage in intensive negotiations to secure a comprehensive agreement for a long-term truce, encompassing the cessation of hostilities, the exchange of Palestinian detainees and hostages in Gaza, and the transfer of authority in Gaza to an independent body of technocrats.
Indirect talks between Hamas and the U.S. commenced five days ago, according to an Egyptian official and a senior Hamas representative who described Alexander’s release as a goodwill gesture. The senior Hamas official, speaking anonymously, projected Alexander’s release on Monday, noting that it was aimed at reciprocating a favorable response from President Trump. Another Hamas official, also speaking anonymously, anticipated the release within the next 48 hours and suggested that a temporary ceasefire from Israel would be necessary to facilitate the handover.
An Egyptian official involved in ceasefire negotiations, speaking anonymously, mentioned that Hamas received assurances from the Trump administration via Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries that Alexander’s release would open discussions on all issues, including ending the conflict. Alexander’s parents were unavailable for immediate comment.
President Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff have actively referenced Alexander, now 21, in recent months. Witkoff is scheduled to visit Israel soon. “Every time they mention Edan’s name, it’s a sign that he’s not forgotten. They acknowledge he’s American, and they are working towards his release,” remarked Edan’s mother, Yael Alexander, in an earlier interview with The Associated Press
She confirmed that he was still alive. There are currently 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, with approximately one-third of them believed to be alive. The majority of the other hostages have been released through ceasefire agreements or other negotiations. The Hostages Families Forum, a grassroots organization representing many hostage families, stated that Alexander’s release should be the start of a comprehensive agreement to free all remaining hostages.
President Trump, whose administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel, is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates this week as part of a regional tour. Israeli airstrikes continued overnight and into Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals in Gaza, mostly women and children, as reported by local health officials.
In one incident, two strikes hit tents in Khan Younis, killing two children and their parents each. Additionally, seven people were killed in strikes elsewhere, including a man and his child in a Gaza City neighborhood, according to hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military maintains that it targets militants and endeavors to prevent harm to civilians, attributing civilian casualties to Hamas’ presence in densely populated areas.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for over 10 weeks, restricting all imports, including food, medicine, and emergency supplies, as a pressure tactic to compel Hamas to release hostages. The ceasefire that had facilitated the release of more than 30 hostages was shattered by Israel in March. Humanitarian organizations warn that the current crisis is the most severe since the war began, with food supplies running critically low.
The conflict originated when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s offensive has led to the deaths of over 52,800 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The offensive has caused extensive destruction and displaced around 90% of the population.
In a separate development, Israel announced the recovery of the remains of a soldier who was killed in a 1982 battle in southern Lebanon after being missing for over four decades. The soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Tzvi Feldman, was found deep inside Syria following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad late last year. Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Feldman’s surviving siblings and explained that intelligence gathered by the military and Mossad aided in locating and retrieving the soldier’s body.
Reporting from Cairo, Magdy contributed to this article. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv also contributed. For more coverage of the conflict, visit https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
