In a statement to Reuters on Sunday, Hamas confirmed it will release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander in the coming days as part of a broader diplomatic effort to secure a ceasefire and reopen humanitarian aid routes into Gaza. Alexander is the only known American hostage still alive in the Strip.
Senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said the planned release is being facilitated with the help of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. The goal, he added, is to create momentum toward “a final agreement to end the war” and to exchange prisoners in an “agreed-upon manner.”
Sources involved in the talks told The Times of Israel that the release could happen as early as Monday, pending key security adjustments—including a temporary halt to Israeli military operations and drone surveillance over parts of Gaza, conditions similar to those applied in previous hostage transfers.
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Unnamed Hamas sources told the Qatari-based Al-Araby television channel earlier that day that negotiations are in the final stages for the release. The sources claimed that “final details” are being worked out and that the announcement could come within days.
The report follows claims by an Arab official, speaking to the Times of Israel, that Hamas is under pressure to release Alexander as a goodwill gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit the region later this week.
The potential release comes following alleged ongoing talks between Hamas and the United States over a broader ceasefire deal and the establishment of a US-backed humanitarian aid mechanism for the Gaza Strip. A senior Palestinian official confirmed to Reuters that discussions are underway concerning both the cessation of hostilities and urgent aid deliveries.
“President Trump has made clear the consequences Hamas will face if it continues to hold the hostages, including American Edan Alexander and the bodies of four Americans,” a US State Department spokesperson said. The official added that Hamas bears sole responsibility for both the war and the recent resumption of fighting.