Hamas agreed to free Edan Alexander, a double US and Israel citizen who believes to be the last US citizen who remains in captivity in Gaza, weeks after saying that he lost contact with the group that kept him hostage.
Its release is part of “the measures being taken to get a ceasefire, open the crosses and allow help,” said Khalil Al-Hayya, head of the Hamas Trading Team in a statement on Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information about Alexander’s condition.
Steve Witkoff, a US special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the deal with NBC News and said he is traveling to Israel to ensure Alexander’s liberation.
“We are looking for -probably tomorrow,” said Witkoff. “There was a long negotiation with many people to thank.”
He continued to describe this as a gesture of goodwill to President Donald Trump, adding that it is a great time “largely” because of Trump.
“The family is ecstasy,” said Witkoff.
The hostage family forum issued a statement on behalf of Alexander’s family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are “in continuous contact with US administration” regarding their potential release in the coming days.
Alexander was serving in Israel’s defense forces when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with about 250 others.
Hamas previously agreed to free Alexander in March, along with the bodies of four other double nationals. But weeks later, the militant group said it lost contact with the group holding it.
At the time, Hamas blamed the issue by Israeli strikes that hit the area where Alexander was supposed to be maintained.
Hamas and Israel agreed with a temporary cease in January, which led to the release of hostages in exchange for releasing the Palestinians in Israeli custody. He also saw an influx of help to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
But the fragile cease -Fogo collapsed in March after negotiations stopped how to expand the break in hostilities to a sustainable end of war.
Al-Hayya added on Sunday that Hamas was ready to negotiate “and exert serious efforts to reach a final deal to end the war.”
Gaza’s future is unclear after the first -Israeli minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that the country’s security office approved a plan to capture the entire enclave. Under this plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be “moved” from the track, while Israel’s military operations launched to defeat Hamas.
This plan was made public after a full blockade in Israel’s track aid, it reached its third month. United nations representatives and Palestinians accused Israel of using help as a “weapon of war” at the International Court of Justice last month.
Disagreements in how to approach the situation in Gaza and Iran led to tension between Trump and Netanyahu, according to two US authorities, two Middle East diplomats and two other people with knowledge.
While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to agree with an now worn Iran, the sources told NBC News.
Netanyahu denied the reports on Sunday, insisting on an X video that his relationship with Trump was “excellent.” He added that the two allies see “an eye on almost everything.”