The senior Hamas official did not specify a time for the release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli Army who was born and raised in New Jersey, but a source familiar with the matter told Reuters it would likely happen on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East this week. His special envoy Adam Boehler said news of Alexander’s release was a positive step forward.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was grateful to all those involved.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the deadliest day for Israel in its history.
In a joint statement, Qatar and Egypt said Hamas’ agreement to free Alexander was an “encouraging” step towards the warring parties returning to Gaza ceasefire talks, which have stalled since March.
Exiled Gaza Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya said efforts to facilitate Alexander’s release have been jointly carried out by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
Direct four-way talks that led to the release were held between officials from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Hamas, a source briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.
Israeli media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a closed session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hamas could soon release Alexander as a goodwill gesture towards Trump.
Hamas had released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel’s military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.
Israel, which is in control of around a third of Gaza’s territory, said in May it will expand its Gaza offensive.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Hamas bore sole responsibility for the war as well as for the resumption of hostilities.
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