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The Palestinian movement Hamas has expressed this Sunday its willingness to release the last living hostage of U.S. citizenship, Edan Alexander.
The release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier with dual nationality, kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militias during the incursion of October 7, 2023, is scheduled for Monday. It will be "a gesture to the US" so that negotiations begin on a ceasefire, the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and the transfer of the Palestinian enclave under the management of an independent body, according to a statement from the group cited by the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
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President Trump confirmed on Sunday on social media the upcoming release of Alexander.
"I am pleased to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I thank everyone who contributed to making this monumental news happen," wrote the president.
He indicated that it is "a good faith step towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators —Qatar and Egypt— to end this brutal war and return all living hostages and mortal remains to their loved ones".
A Hamas representative told the Arab media that an aide to Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, met on Saturday and Sunday with Hamas representatives in Doha (Qatar).
The planned release coincides with Trump's tour of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, this week.
Qatar exerted strong pressure on Hamas to secure Alexander's release before Trump's visit, reports the Israeli media outlet Maarev, which notes that Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday in the context of the announcement.
The media states that Israel was not aware of the direct negotiations between the U.S. and Hamas. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed having been notified by Washington about the Palestinian group's intention to release Alexander. "The U.S. has informed Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of the hostages under the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted," reads the message.
At the same time, Netanyahu has implied that there will be no ceasefire. "According to Israel's policy, negotiations will be carried out under fire, based on the commitment to achieve all the goals of the war," he emphasized.
"Shameful diplomatic failure"
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed the news but called it insufficient and criticized Netanyahu.
"The release of Idan Alexander is welcome and exciting, but we must not stop there. It must lead to a broad hostage agreement that allows for the return of all hostages home. They have no time," tweeted.
According to the politician, the reports of direct contacts between Hamas and the United States "are a shameful diplomatic failure on the part of the Israeli government and its leader".
"The kidnapped are ours, and the responsibility for their return lies with the Government," he declared.
