Edan Alexander: Hamas set to release last living American hostage in Gaza ahead of Trump trip

Hamas has offered a gesture of goodwill ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, saying it is ready to release the last living American hostage held in the Gaza Strip.

Edan Alexander, grew up in the United States and was serving as a soldier in Israel before being abducted during the October 7, 2023 massacres that sparked the Israel, Hamas war.

Conditions in Gaza have reached levels never before seen in the war-torn enclave, with all aid halted and millions displaced and starving, as Israel endeavours to weed out the last of the Hamas soldiers it says are responsible for ongoing terrorist attacks.

Hamas negotiators have made statements confirming they have been in contact with US authorities “during the past few days” in talks that “showed high positivity.”

“The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations, and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to stop the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed manner, and manage the Gaza Strip by an independent professional body,” Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya said.

Sources have told Reuters that Alexander may be released on Tuesday as a show of good faith prior to the negotiations and in the hope Israel will reopen border crossings and allow aid to flow into the region.

Donald Trump and a US negotiating contingent are preparing to leave the US for talks in the Middle East, but at this stage the President is not slated to visit Israel.

Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy is reportedly set to arrive in Tel Aviv on Monday morning to facilitate the release of Mr Alexander.

CNN are reporting a source close to Witkoff called it “a total good will gesture,” especially since it comes with Israel poised to expand its military operations in Gaza.

“We’re going to go into immediate peace deal negotiations,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed 15 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, according to local health officials.

Two of the weekend strikes hit tents in the southern city of Khan Younis, each killing two children and their parents, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.

Another seven people were killed in strikes elsewhere, including a man and his child in a Gaza City neighbourhood, according to hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians.

It blames Hamas for civilian deaths in the 19-month-old war because the militants are embedded in densely populated areas.

With Reuters.