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An Israeli-American hostage has crossed into Israel after his release by Hamas amid a pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip, but there was no deal on a wider truce.
Israel’s military said it had received Edan Alexander after the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated his safe transfer from 19 months of captivity to Israeli authorities. Alexander was serving in the Israeli army when Hamas captured him.
Alexander was the last US citizen held by Hamas, and Israel’s Channel 12 said his condition was “low,” without citing a source.

Al Jazeera television showed a photograph of him standing next to masked fighters and a Red Cross official.

Unlike in previous hostage releases, he was wearing civilian clothes.

Fighting halted at midday in the Gaza Strip after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would pause its operations to allow safe passage for the hostage release.

Trump heads to the Gulf

Hamas said it was freeing Alexander as a goodwill gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region this week. He is due to visit Gulf states on a trip that does not include a stop in Israel.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped arrange the release, was expected in Israel on Monday, two Israeli officials said.
Alexander’s family thanked Trump and Witkoff, saying in a statement that they hoped the decision would open the way for the release of the other remaining hostages.

“Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!” Trump wrote on his social media platform earlier in the day.

Netanyahu said Alexander’s release came thanks to Israel’s military pressure in the Gaza Strip and political pressure from Trump.

The Israeli leader said he spoke with Trump on Monday and the US president expressed commitment to Israel, according to a statement by Netanyahu’s office.

Israel to deploy mediators to Qatar

Netanyahu has said there will be no ceasefire and that plans to intensify military action in the Gaza Strip continue.
Witnesses in the Gaza Strip told Reuters the movement of aviation over the enclave by Israeli warplanes and drones had resumed after Alexander’s handover.

The release, after four-way talks between Hamas, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, could open the way to freeing the remaining 58 hostages held in the Gaza Strip, 19 months after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Qatar and Egypt said Alexander’s release was an encouraging step towards new truce talks.
Israel will send a delegation to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a new proposal aimed at securing further hostage releases, Netanyahu’s office said.
The global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said on Monday that half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation and there is a critical risk of famine by September.
For the latest from SBS News, and .
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