The Palestinian movement Hamas has expressed this Sunday its willingness to release the last living hostage of U.S. citizenship, Edan Alexander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier with dual nationality, kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militias during the incursion of October 7, 2023, is scheduled for Monday. It will be “a gesture to the US<\/strong>” so that negotiations begin on a ceasefire, the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and the transfer of the Palestinian enclave under the management of an independent body, according to a statement from the group cited<\/a> by the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be interested in<\/strong>: Hurricane Oscar threatens Bahamas and Cuba with heavy rains and flooding<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n President Trump confirmed on Sunday on social media the upcoming release of Alexander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I am pleased to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I thank everyone who contributed to making this monumental news happen,” wrote<\/a> the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He indicated that it is “a good faith step<\/strong> towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators \u2014Qatar and Egypt\u2014 to end this brutal war and return all living hostages and mortal remains to their loved ones”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Hamas representative told the Arab media that an aide to Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, met on Saturday and Sunday with Hamas representatives in Doha (Qatar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The planned release coincides with Trump’s tour of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qatar exerted strong pressure<\/strong> on Hamas to secure Alexander’s release before Trump’s visit, reports<\/a> the Israeli media outlet Maarev, which notes that Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel<\/strong> on Monday in the context of the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The media states that Israel was not aware<\/strong> of the direct negotiations between the U.S. and Hamas. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed<\/a> having been notified by Washington about the Palestinian group’s intention to release Alexander. “The U.S. has informed Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of the hostages under the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted,” reads the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Netanyahu has implied that there will be no ceasefire<\/strong>. “According to Israel’s policy, negotiations will be carried out under fire, based on the commitment to achieve all the goals of the war,” he emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed the news but called it insufficient and criticized Netanyahu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n“Shameful diplomatic failure”<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n