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National

Hamas said Sunday it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who has been held for over 550 days, as part of an effort to reach a ceasefire deal and resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

The big picture: Alexander's release is also thought to be a gesture by Hamas to President Trump as he visits the Middle East later this week, sources said.

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.

Hamas to release Israeli-American hostage as gesture to Trump

Edan Alexander is the only living American citizen among the 59 hostages being held by Hamas. Only 24 of those hostages are still alive.

Varda Ben Baruch holds photos of her grandson Israeli- American hostage Edan Alexander as she walks near Israeli soldiers during a rally of families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip at Nir Oz near the border with the Gaza Strip on April 20, 2025 in Nir Oz, Israel. Family

Varda Ben Baruch holds photos of her grandson, Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, near Israeli soldiers during a rally of families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip at Nir Oz near the border with the Gaza Strip. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images

Israel

Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

The U.S. and China appear to have struck some sort of trade deal, with both sides promising details on Monday. 

Why it matters: The trade war between the two largest economies brought the world to the brink of recession, and threatened to scramble the global economic order. 

Supply chain experts and retailers have said the U.S. was a few weeks away from empty shelves and soaring prices, on par with the COVID pandemic, as trade all but stopped.

Catch up quick: After two days of talks in Geneva, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Sunday that there was "substantial progress," while U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted that "perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought."

The White House circulated their comments in an email headlined "U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva."

The other side: Chinese officials reportedly said Sunday that a coming joint statement would be "good news for the world."

They also indicated the sides agreed on a mechanism for further talks.

Catch up quick: A series of tit-for-tat trade retaliations in recent months left the U.S. and China with what Bessent has called an effective "trade embargo," as tariffs rose to the point of choking off business between the countries.

The Federal Reserve, in a new research paper Friday, indicated tariffs on China had already started pushing consumer prices higher — and that was before the current 145% levies went into effect. 

Cargo traffic into the Port of Los Angeles, the largest U.S. container port, is plunging, while retailers have made clear in recent days that price hikes are inevitable as tariffs squeeze their margins. 

Yes, but: After weeks of increasingly bitter rhetoric, the statements from both sides issued Sunday were positive and optimistic. 

What to watch: Neither country will say yet when the Monday statement will be released, but investors cheered what little they knew.

Stocks opened stronger Sunday night on the news, with S&P 500 futures up 1.3%.

The U.S. Dollar Index, under pressure of late over concerns about the health of the economy, rose about 0.3%. Bond yields were steady, with the U.S. 10-year hovering around 4.38%.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect stock market developments.

U.S., China say positive trade news coming Monday

The trade war between the two largest economies brought the world to the brink of recession.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer address reporters in Geneva.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer address reporters in Geneva. Photo: Valentin Flauraud/AFP via Getty Images

China

Tariffs

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he will travel to Turkey later this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a "necessary basis for diplomacy" to end the war.

Why it matters: If the meeting takes place, it will be the first time the two leaders have met since the Russia-Ukraine war began more than three years ago. 

Driving the news: Zelensky reiterated his expectation for the ceasefire in his post on X, where he announced his visit to Turkey.

"I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses," he wrote.

Last week, President Trump called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine and threatened sanctions if it is "not respected."

On Saturday, Zelensky and the leaders of several NATO countries spoke with Trump over the phone and stressed they are ready for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. 

During the 15-minute call, Zelensky and the NATO leaders told Trump that if a ceasefire is agreed upon, Ukraine is ready to begin direct peace talks with Russia.

Putin responded to the terms later that evening. And though he didn't accept the ceasefire proposal, he said he is ready to begin direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday. 

What they're saying: Hours before Zelensky's agreement to meet Putin in Instanbul, Trump called on Ukraine's president to accept the terms in a post to Truth Social.

Trump stressed that if Ukraine participates in these talks it will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible.

 If it is not, Europe and the U.S., will know where things stand and respond accordingly, he added.

"I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who's too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!," Trump wrote.

Zoom out: A Ukrainian official said Zelensky will be in Turkey on Thursday even if Russia doesn't agree to start a ceasefire on Monday. 

Zelensky to travel to Turkey for potential talks with Putin

If the meeting takes place, it will be the first time the two leaders have met since the Russia-Ukraine war began more than three years ago.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, during a news conference.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, during a news conference on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Photographer: Roni Rekomaa/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Donald Trump

Russia

Ukraine

One of three Democratic lawmakers whom the Department of Homeland Security said could be arrested over a confrontation that erupted when they sought an oversight visit at a New Jersey ICE facility said Sunday that the agency's threats are creating "an environment of intimidation."

The big picture: New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver say they visited the Delaney Hall detention center last week to do legal oversight when chaos erupted and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing.

But DHS has accused the lawmakers of assaulting law enforcement and said they "stormed" the facility, a claim the Democrats reject.

Lawmakers have said DHS' actions are unjustified because of legal barriers that prohibit federal resources from being used to impede congressional oversight. Members of Congress are not required to give prior notice before an oversight visit, per ICE guidelines.

Agency spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a CNN interview on Saturday that "there will likely be more arrests coming," and confirmed to Axios' Andrew Solender that the House Democrats may be among them.

DHS did not respond to an additional request for comment on Sunday.

Driving the news: Asked about DHS' arrest threats, Watson Coleman said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, "we have no idea what they have in mind other than to create an environment of intimidation just by claiming that perhaps we might be subject to arrest."

"But there's no reason for it," she said in the joint interview alongside Menendez and McIver. "Nothing happened other than the chaos that they created themselves."

She added, "If anything, we were pushed and shoved."

State of play: Watson Coleman said that when the lawmakers visited the facility, ICE "delayed us, tried to dissuade us" and "disregarded us." She said the lawmakers arrived an hour and a half before Baraka, who has been trying to inspect the facility. 

Watson Coleman said Baraka complied with an order to leave the space he was standing but was arrested "for trespassing on public property, which is absurd." 

Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba said Friday that Baraka was arrested because he "committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings ... to remove himself."

Menendez said there were "a lot of opportunities for DHS, for ICE to deescalate the situation." But he said "over 20 armed ICE, HSI officers" engaged with the officials.

McIver said after the confrontation, the lawmakers were given a tour of the facility and were "offered ... a soda."

The other side: When asked for comment, DHS directed Axios to a video the agency shared to its X account of the scrum outside the facility.

Friction point: Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said the threats to arrest members of Congress are "very drastic."

He added, "I would only do that if they were complicit with a crime."

McCaul continued, "If they were just visiting a detention center ... I have done that many times. If they are disrupting law enforcement, that's another question."

Zoom out: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) suggested on "Fox News Sunday" that DHS tried to "set them up," arguing the agency's claims that the lawmakers stormed the facility are "a lie."

"To be clear, one of those members is 80 years old," he emphasized, in reference to Watson Coleman.

Moskowitz added: "If this continues to happen, where members of Congress are going to be attacked, physically attacked by the administration, this is going to have reverberations on whether the House can function."

Go deeper: House Dems clash with police at ICE facility, mayor arrested

House Dems clash with police at ICE facility, mayor arrested

Democrat threatened with arrest says DHS creating "environment of intimidation"

The lawmakers say they visited the Delaney Hall detention center to do "legal oversight."

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman gestures as she speaks during a press conference.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) speaks at a press conference on July 18, 2022, in Washington, DC. Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Take Back the Court Action Fund

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Hamas to release Israeli-American hostage as gesture to Trump

U.S., China say positive trade news coming Monday

Zelensky to travel to Turkey for potential talks with Putin

Democrat threatened with arrest says DHS creating "environment of intimidation"

Bessent cites "substantial progress" with China, Trump sees "total reset"

Trump admin eyes arrests for House Dems over ICE incident

Pope Leo XIV calls for Gaza ceasefire and peace in Ukraine

Lutnick says 10% tariffs here to stay, but insists consumers won't pay for it

Inside MAGA's fight for "Western civilization"

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