TERRORIST group Hamas has announced it will release the last living American hostage in Gaza in a bid to establish a ceasefire.
Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the US was abducted from his base during the October 7 terror attack.
A source familiar with the matter said Alexander would likely be released on Tuesday.
It is part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave, the Palestinian terror group said.
Another official, Khalil al-Hayya, the exiled Gaza Hamas chief, mentioned that the release efforts have involved collaboration between Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli prime minister’s office on the announcement.
Hamas had released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19.
Israel’s military reinitiated its ground and aerial attacks on Gaza in March after Hamas turned down offers to prolong the ceasefire without resolving the conflict.
Israeli officials said that the offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarised.
Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.
The Iran-supported militant group has expressed its readiness to release the remaining hostages taken by its fighters during assaults in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
And to agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.
Israel, which is in control of around a third of Gaza’s territory and has been imposing an aid blockade since March, said in May it would expand its Gaza offensive.
Top Israeli officials say the IDF is preparing to”conquer” all of the Gaza Strip.
