The final living American hostage held by Hamas, Edan Alexander, is expected to be released on Monday, according to a senior Hamas official, The Associated Press reported.
The senior official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the media.
The Hamas official told the AP that the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization was advised to “give a gift to President Trump and in return he will give back a better one.”
Trump on Sunday confirmed that Alexander, a New Jersey native with dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, “is coming home to his family,” after being held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Trump described the release as “a step taken in good faith” toward the U.S. and mediators Qatar and Egypt “to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Americans informed Israel of Hamas’s intention to release Alexander “as a gesture to the Americans, without conditions or anything in exchange.”
“The U.S. 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,” the Israeli prime minister’s office continued in a statement, referring to the proposal from Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has played a key role in hostage negotiations.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said in a statement that Hamas is ready to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to reach a deal for a long-term ceasefire. The deal would include an end to the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and hostages in Gaza and the handing over of power in Gaza to an independent body of technocrats, the AP reported.
An Egyptian official and a senior Hamas official told the AP the indirect talks between the U.S. and Hamas began five days ago. Both individuals described Alexander’s release as a gesture of goodwill.
The Associated Press contributed.
