Shortly before his trip to the Middle East, US President Trump hailed “monumental news.”

Mediators in the conflict between Israel and Hamas hope that the announced release of an American hostage will represent significant progress in the struggle to end the Gaza war. According to media reports, Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, kidnapped in October 2023, is the last living US citizen still being held in the Gaza Strip. The Islamist Hamas group says it intends to release the 21-year-old dual national by Tuesday at the latest—just in time for the start of US President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East.

Trump called it "monumental news" and a gesture of goodwill toward the United States and the other mediators, Qatar and Egypt. "Hopefully, this is the first of the final necessary steps toward ending this brutal conflict," he wrote on the online platform Truth Social. Ultimately, all surviving abductees and the remains of those already killed must be returned.

The governments of Qatar and Egypt also spoke of a "gesture of goodwill" in a joint statement, calling it a further step toward a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of detainees and prisoners, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the largely devastated coastal region.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to Thursday, followed by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – but not Israel, the US's traditionally most important ally in the Middle East. The Israeli government indicated that, in this context, it viewed Alexander's planned release as a gesture by Hamas toward the Americans, but that it did not see itself obliged to make any concessions.

Hamas, for its part, wants the move to be seen as part of its efforts to reach a more far-reaching agreement. Ultimately, the Palestinian terrorist organization wants to achieve a resumption of aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip and an end to the extremely costly war. Alexander will be released within 48 hours, a senior Hamas official told the German Press Agency.

After much trepidation, his family will be allowed to receive him in Israel. Trump's hostage negotiator, Adam Boehler, posted a photo on X of himself and Alexander's mother on board a plane.

The young soldier was serving in the Israeli military due to his dual citizenship when Islamist terrorists kidnapped him along with 249 other people from Israel and took him to the Gaza Strip a good year and a half ago. Around 1,200 people were killed in the October massacre, which triggered Israel's bombing and ground offensive in Gaza. Since then, according to Palestinian sources – which are difficult to verify independently – almost 53,000 people have died in the coastal region.

In total, at least 21, possibly 24, hostages are said to still be alive in the Gaza Strip. However, 35 of the abductees are firmly believed to be dead – including four US citizens.

Released hostages have repeatedly reported the brutal methods used by their captors. Like other abductees, Alexander was allegedly chained and tortured at times. In November 2024, Hamas released a video in which he weeps uncontrollably and calls on Trump to support negotiations for the release of the hostages.

The Israeli government announced that Alexander's release, which is unconditional, is expected to lead to negotiations on an agreement, the framework of which the Israeli side had already accepted some time ago – as the US government had stated. Two months ago, Hamas had already proposed releasing the dual national as part of a deal. However, the Israeli government described the offer at the time as inadequate.

According to the Jerusalem Post, an expansion of the Gaza offensive remains a threat. If Hamas refuses to comply with a ceasefire agreement that calls for the immediate release of ten hostages, the Israeli military will carry out its threat, the source said, citing informed sources.

"Edan's release must be part of a larger agreement for the return of all 59 hostages," demanded the Hostage Families Forum. "No one must be left behind."