GAZA CITY: Hamas said it would release on Monday a US-Israeli captive held in Gaza since October 2023, ahead of a regional visit by US President Donald Trump and as a UN-backed assessment warned of famine in the territory.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said on Monday it had "decided to release the Zionist soldier holding American citizenship, Edan Alexander, today", spokesman Abu Obeida said on Telegram.
It comes a day after Hamas revealed it was engaged in direct talks with Washington towards a ceasefire.
A source close to Hamas said that Alexander's handover to the Red Cross would "most likely" take place after 14:00 GMT on Monday. "The location is expected to be in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip," the source added.
Speaking in a press conference around 14:15 GMT, US President Donald Trump said "They're going to be releasing Edan in about two hours from now or sometime today".
The expected liberation comes just ahead of a visit to the region by Trump, who is due in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
An Israeli official said the military was "preparing" for the return of Alexander, "who will be transferred by a special unit to the initial reception facility in Re'im" near the Gaza border in southern Israel.
Hamas had said Alexander, the last living captive in Gaza with American citizenship, would be released "as part of efforts towards a ceasefire" and the reopening of aid crossings.
A source close to the group said on Monday that Hamas had decided not to hold a public ceremony for the handover. A Hamas source meanwhile said that mediators informed the group that Israel would halt military operations for the handover of the 21-year-old soldier.
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