Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage in bid for Gaza ceasefire

Hamas, on Sunday, May 11, 2025, announced its intention to release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Alexander, 21, is the last known living U.S. citizen still held hostage in the territory.

The announcement came amid ongoing negotiations in Qatar between Hamas and a senior U.S. official.

This is supposedly aimed at reaching a truce and facilitating humanitarian access to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hamas’s statement indicated that Alexander’s release was a goodwill gesture intended to build trust during the talks.

A senior Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that the announcement was timed ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East.

The release process is reportedly scheduled to be finalized early Monday, following another meeting between Hamas and mediators.

It is expected that Israeli military operations will be temporarily halted during the handover.

Alexander was born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey.

He was serving in an elite Israeli infantry unit near the Gaza border when he was captured by Hamas fighters during their surprise assault on October 7, 2023.

During that attack, around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 hostages were taken.

Of those hostages, 59 remain in Gaza, with as many as 24 believed to still be alive.

Five are U.S. citizens, but Alexander is thought to be the only one confirmed to be alive.

Hamas said the release of Alexander was part of a broader initiative to reach a ceasefire agreement.

It was also reportedly to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under a full Israeli blockade for over two months.

The group expressed a desire for a final resolution to the conflict, which has inflicted severe humanitarian suffering across the territory.

Israel, meanwhile, confirmed through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that the U.S. had notified it of Hamas’s plans to release Alexander.

Israel called it a gesture “towards the Americans.”

Officials noted that the move could lay the groundwork for negotiations concerning the release of other hostages.

Despite this development, the Israeli government emphasized that its broader military goals would not be compromised.

The prime minister’s office reaffirmed that all negotiations with Hamas would continue “under fire” until all objectives of the war are met.

The news of Alexander’s potential release has brought hope to the families of hostages.

The Families and Missing Families Forum welcomed the announcement.

However, they stressed that it should be the first step in a broader agreement to secure the release of all remaining hostages.

They praised President Trump for reviving hope among the families and urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to act decisively to bring everyone home.

Hamas, however, has maintained that any agreement must include an end to the war, a condition that Israel has consistently rejected.

Ongoing discussions between Hamas and the U.S. have taken place amid reports of growing friction between the Trump administration and Netanyahu.

Critics have accused the Israeli leader of prolonging the conflict for political gain, adding to the domestic and international pressure he faces.

President Trump is scheduled to arrive in the region on Tuesday.

If no ceasefire deal is reached by then, Israel has threatened to expand its military campaign in Gaza.

Israeli plans for this offensive reportedly include:

• the indefinite occupation of the territory,
• forced displacement of Palestinian civilians to the south, and
• a controversial plan to manage humanitarian aid through private companies, bypassing United Nations agencies.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire.

Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine, and other vital supplies for 70 consecutive days.

Since resuming its aerial and ground operations in mid-March, over 2,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began has surpassed 52,800.

Additionally, the UN reports that approximately 10,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

On the other hand, food prices have soared by up to 1,400%, making basic necessities inaccessible to much of the population.

This latest phase of the war follows Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel in October 2023.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens and hostilities continue, the outcome of ongoing diplomatic efforts could prove pivotal for both the region and the fate of the remaining hostages.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook