Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander to be released Monday, Hamas says

 said early Monday that it will release Israeli-American hostage , who is believed to be  held captive in Gaza by the Palestinian militant group, in the coming hours.

“The  have decided to release the captive Zionist soldier who holds American citizenship, “Idan Alexander,” today, Monday, May 12, 2025,” a Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said in a brief statement on Telegram early Monday.

Hamas had  such a release would be a signal of good faith as part of “the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and ” into the Gaza Strip.

If successful, the release will come the day before  is set to  in a trip that is expected to intensify efforts to bring a pause to Israel's  in Gaza, from which  for several weeks.

Trump's trip is not expected to include a stop in Israel.

Israel on Monday paused its military operation in Gaza ahead of Alexander’s release, including air strikes and drone artillery, according to 온라인카지노사이트 News' crew on the ground.

But the office of  said in a statement Monday that it was committing only to a safe corridor to allow Alexander’s release, rather than any ceasefire or release of Palestinian prisoners or detainees.

“We are in critical days, during which Hamas has a proposal before it that would allow for the release of our hostages,” the statement said, adding, “Negotiations will continue under fire and alongside preparations to intensify the fighting.”

The Israeli security cabinet last week  to capture the entire enclave under which more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be “moved” out of the strip as Israel’s military launched operations to defeat Hamas.

Alexander, 21, was born and raised in New Jersey and was  him during its , that killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostage, marking a  in a decadeslong conflict.

More than 52,000 people have been killed in the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip since then, according to health officials in the enclave, which has been run by Hamas since 2007.

Gaza's Ministry of Health on Monday said that Israeli strikes had killed 33 people and injured 94 others in the past 24 hours, adding that many more remain trapped under rubble.

Alexander is one of at least 59 , according to Israeli officials, although less than half are believed to be alive.

Hamas previously reneged on an   in March, along with the bodies of four other dual nationals, saying it had lost contact with the group holding him and alleging that Israeli strikes targeting the area where he was allegedly being held were to blame.

Alexander's family confirmed in a statement Sunday that it was expecting his release. “Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,” it said.

In his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, residents gathered in Huyler Park to celebrate his release and watch the events unfold on livestream screens.

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, told 온라인카지노사이트 News on Sunday that he was traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release. “We are picking him up probably tomorrow,” Witkoff said. “There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.”

He added that it was a big moment “in large part” because of Trump.

Trump, in a post to his Truth Social account Sunday, said he hoped Alexander’s release signified a step toward ending the war in Gaza.

“This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones,” Trump .

Mediators Qatar and Egypt also welcomed the move in a statement Sunday.

With Trump due to travel Tuesday to the region, this week may see further developments on growing , which sources have told 온라인카지노사이트 News have arisen over how to approach talks on Gaza and Iran. Netanyahu has  the reports.

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