WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Hamas' forthcoming release of an Israeli-American hostage from the besieged Gaza Strip marks a "step taken in good faith" towards the US and regional mediators, signaling that it might be the first of the "final steps" needed to end Israel's war.

"I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen," Trump said in a social media post, using an alternate spelling for Idan Alexander.

"This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones. Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!" he added.

Hamas earlier Sunday said it will release Alexander as part of ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

Alexander, a soldier who was serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border, is known to be the last remaining American hostage in Gaza who is still alive.

His release, the Palestinian group's statement said, would be among several steps aimed at facilitating a ceasefire, reopening border crossings and allowing humanitarian aid and relief supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Hamas also expressed its willingness to enter immediate and intensive negotiations aimed at reaching a final ceasefire agreement, a mutually agreed prisoner exchange, and the formation of an independent professional body to govern Gaza.

The group said that such a framework would help ensure long-term calm and stability alongside reconstruction and the lifting of an Israeli blockade.

Hamas also praised the ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt as well as Türkiye.

Israel estimates that 59 captives remain in Gaza, including 21 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, over 9,900 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, where rights groups report widespread torture, starvation and medical neglect, resulting in several deaths.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the US informed Israel of Hamas’ intention to release Alexander as a gesture of goodwill to Washington and “without any conditions or exchange.”

Netanyahu’s office said the move is expected to lead to negotiations over the release of additional captives based on an original proposal from Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, which Israel previously approved.

The anticipated release comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Tuesday through Friday. The itinerary does not include a visit to Israel.

The trip comes amid reports of rising tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, including allegations that Trump has cut off direct communication over suspicions that Netanyahu is manipulating the US administration.

A March proposal from Witkoff included the release of five Israeli captives in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the start of negotiations for a second phase, according to Israeli media outlets.

Hamas previously said that it did not reject the Witkoff plan and accused Netanyahu of resuming the war to sabotage the agreement.

More than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.