Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, Hamas announced that it would release one of the Israeli hostages held on October 7, 2023, Idan Alexander, 20. He is a soldier in the Israeli army who holds American citizenship.
Hamas said the process is part of ongoing mediation efforts to establish a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and restore humanitarian aid. Hamas sources told the Associated Press that they expect Idan Alexander to be released within the next 48 hours.
According to a source in the Times of Israel, Hamas hopes that the release of Idan Alexander will convince Trump to stop the war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
