Hamas agrees to release last living U.S. hostage in Gaza

MIDEAST WARS

Alexander is Israeli soldier who grew up in New Jersey

Varda Ben Baruch holds a picture of her grandson Edan Alexander, who is held hostage in Gaza, as other families call out on loudspeakers in hopes that their loved ones will hear them, near the Gaza border in Kibbutz Nir Oz, southern Israel on April 20. OHAD ZWIGENBERG — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy

Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip >> President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed late Sunday in a message to The Associated Press that Hamas had agreed to release the last living American hostage in Gaza as a good will gesture toward Trump.

The goal, Witkoff said, was to restart talks on a ceasefire, the release of additional hostage and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza before Israel carries out a threatened total takeover of the territory.

Witkoff was traveling to the region Monday ahead of Edan Alexander’s expected release. It will be the first release of a hostage through negotiations between Hamas and the United States that largely took place without Israel’s involvement.

The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel shattered a ceasefire in March comes shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East this week. It highlighted the willingness of Israel’s closest ally to inject momentum into ceasefire talks for the 19-month war as desperation grows among hostages’ families and Gaza’s over 2 million people under the new Israeli blockade.

Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in New Jersey. He was abducted from his base during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the U.S. informed it of Hamas’ intent to release Alexander “without compensation or conditions” and that the step is expected to lead to negotiations on a truce. Netanyahu’s government was angered by U.S. direct talks with Hamas earlier this year — which led to a Hamas offer to release Alexander and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel recommitted to a stalled ceasefire deal. Days later, however, Israel resumed the war.

Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group has been in contact with the U.S. administration over the past few days.

Al-Hayyah said in a statement Hamas is ready to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to reach a final deal for a long-term truce, which includes 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.

Indirect talks between Hamas and the U.S. began five days ago, an Egyptian official and a senior Hamas official told the AP, with both describing the release of Alexander as a gesture of goodwill.

The senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Alexander is expected to be released on Monday. Hamas was advised to “give a gift to President Trump and in return he will give back a better one,” the official said.

Another Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, said Alexander’s release is expected in the next 48 hours, adding that it requires Israel to pause fighting for a couple of hours.

The Egyptian official involved in ceasefire negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss talks, said Hamas received assurances from the Trump administration through Egyptian and Qatari mediators that Alexander’s release “will put all files on the negotiating table” including an end to the war.

Alexander’s parents did not immediately return requests for comment.

Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff have frequently mentioned Alexander, now 21, by name in the past few months. Witkoff was expected to visit Israel in the coming hours.