Hamas has said it will release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship.

The group announced on Sunday that the 21-year-old, who is believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel.

Hamas, the militant group with which Israel has been at war since 7 October 2023, said Mr Alexander would be released on Monday.

The group said in a statement: “Hamas has been in contact with the US administration over the past few days.

“The movement has expressed a high degree of positivity, and the release of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US citizen, will be part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach our people in the Gaza Strip.”

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Donald Trump posing for photos with family members of Edan Alexander in New York last year. File pic: AP

Mr Alexander, who is from the US state of New Jersey, was 19 when he was taken from his base on the border with Gaza in southern Israel during the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.

His expected release has been described as a “gesture of goodwill” by Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, who has been heavily involved in peace talks between Hamas and Israel.

He confirmed to Sky News’ US partner network NBC News that he is travelling to Israel to secure Mr Alexander’s release.

Edan Alexander deal ‘was reached before the US informed Israel’

The release of Edan Alexander is a success for US pressure on Hamas with help from mediators Egypt and Qatar.

US President Donald Trump thanked those countries in a post on Truth Social, notably with no mention of Israel. Hamas will get nothing in return and have said this is a goodwill gesture in the hope it will lead to progress on a ceasefire.

There will likely be a mixed reaction to Alexander’s release in Israel – on the one hand celebration another hostage is being released and the anticipation this will open the way for the remaining 58 to come out, but also anger that Trump has managed to do what their own prime minister hasn’t: a full hostage deal.

The current relationship between Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu is the talk of Jerusalem and Washington, so much so that both administrations have felt it necessary to deny any rift in recent days.

That might be so, but the Israeli media is reporting the Edan Alexander deal was reached before the US informed Israel.

If so, then this would be the latest example that this White House appears to believe it is more productive to do business without including Israel – the Houthi ceasefire and Iran nuclear talks being two other recent examples.

And Steve Witkoff, Trump’s man for all things, has reportedly voiced opposition to Israel’s plans to expand its military operation in Gaza, believing a full ceasefire is now the best way to end the fighting, release the hostages and prepare for the day-after in Gaza.

Trump will fly to the Middle East later on Monday, to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, but not Israel.

To have a US president in the region but not dropping by Israel is being seen as a snub, especially during this current period of war.

The Israeli government has repeatedly been forced to play catch up to unfolding events, something it isn’t too used to doing with its close allies in Washington, and there will be concern that Arab leaders will be in the US president’s ear over the coming days, perhaps to the detriment of Netanyahu’s interests.

“We are picking him up probably tomorrow,” Mr Witkoff said. “There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.”

The Hostages Families Forum said it is “embracing and supporting” Mr Alexander’s family. It said his release should “mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that will secure the freedom of all remaining hostages”.

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From 7 May: Israeli military strikes kill dozens in Gaza

US special envoy Adam Boehler described the announcement as a “positive step forward” adding that the US would encourage Hamas to also “release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken”.

The announcement was made hours after a senior Palestinian official told Reuters that the US administration was involved in wider talks with Hamas alongside Egypt and Qatar in a “pursuit of an agreement”.

Mr Trump is also set to travel to the Middle East later this week, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The four-day trip is expected to focus heavily on business deals and new investments.

‘A goodwill gesture’

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was told by the US that Mr Alexander’s release was “a goodwill gesture toward the Americans without compensation or conditions”.

It said the US told Israel the move is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages, according to the original “Witkoff framework” – which Israel has already accepted.

The “Witkoff framework” was proposed in March. It involves Hamas releasing half of its remaining hostages – the militant group’s main bargaining chip – in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.

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Hamas has always refused to accept the deal. It said it is willing to free all remaining hostages and agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.

Around 59 hostages are still inside Gaza, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.