Hamas to release Israeli-American hostage as gesture to Trump

• White House envoy Steve Witkoff spoke to Alexander's parents and notified them of Hamas' plans, a source said. Witkoff was expected to travel to Israel on Monday ahead of his release.
• Alexander is the only living American citizen among the 59 hostages being held by Hamas. Only 21 of those hostages are known to still be alive, and the condition of three others isn't clear.
• Four of the dead hostages are American citizens: Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Haggai and Omer Nuetra.

The latest: A U.S. official said Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler was traveling to Israel with Alexander's parents to retrieve their son from Hamas' captivity.

• They're expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday. "This hostage release was made possible by the strength of President Trump" and the work of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff, the official said.

The Israeli prime minister's office said American officials had informed Israel of Hamas' intention to release Alexander as a gesture to the U.S., without any conditions or anything in return.

• The U.S. told Israel this move was expected to lead to negotiations for the release of the other hostages under Witkoff's original proposal — which Israel has already accepted.
• Israel was preparing for the possibility that this move would materialize. Per Israeli policy, there will be no ceasefire while negotiations take place and Israel remains committed to defeating Hamas.

Catch up quick: Alexander is now 21 but was 19 when Hamas captured him on Oct. 7, 2023.

• He grew up in New Jersey and volunteered to join the Israel Defense Forces out of high school and was reportedly serving near the Gaza border during the attack.
• The Israeli American was last seen in an April Hamas propaganda video, per the American Jewish Committee.

What they're saying: Trump on Truth Social said releasing Alexander 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."

• Trump's statement referred to Hamas' demand that any deal will be comprehensive and lead to the release of all hostages in return for ending the war in Gaza. Israel has refused that and demanded a partial deal that only includes a temporary ceasefire.
• "Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict," Trump wrote.

Hamas said in a statement it's "ready to immediately begin intensive negotiations and invest serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, reach an agreed-upon exchange of prisoners and a solution for governance in the Gaza Strip by independent professional individuals."

• Qatar and Egypt in a joint statement said Hamas' decision was an encouraging step to bring the parties "back to the negotiating table for a ceasefire in Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and guaranteeing the safe and unhindered flow of aid to address the tragic conditions in the Strip."

• There is an "urgent need to end the war on Gaza, to avoid further humanitarian repercussions" and to move forward with "good intentions towards achieving comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the region," they added.

Driving the news: Witkoff is currently in Oman, where he held talks with Iran on Sunday.

• Witkoff has been holding negotiations with Qatar, Egypt and Hamas on a possible Gaza deal "and wider peace discussions" over the past few days, two sources with knowledge of the talks said.

Sources said Israel was not directly involved in the deal and initially learned about it from its intelligence services who spy on Hamas.

• Israel will not be asked to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of Alexander, but the nation will have to agree to a temporary ceasefire and a halt to drone flights over Gaza for a certain period of time to allow Alexander to safely leave the enclave, according to the sources.
• "These are very crucial days," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday during a closed-door hearing of the Knesset Foreign Relations and Security Committee, according to sources.

Zoom out: Sources said the White House is making immense efforts to lead to a breakthrough in negotiations for a new Gaza deal ahead of Trump's trip.

• Israel has set the end of the president's trip as the deadline for a new hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza and is threatening a massive operation to flatten and occupy the enclave and displace its entire population if no deal is reached.
• Witkoff has briefed Trump and Netanyahu about the agreement.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Avery Lotz contributed reporting.