Hamas said on Sunday it is preparing to release Edan Alexander, the last known US citizen hostage held alive in the Gaza Strip, as part of an effort to secure a ceasefire with Israel and after what it said were direct contacts with the Trump administration “in the last few days”.

CAIRO − Hamas will release the Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander held in Gaza as a part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave, a senior Hamas official told Reuters on May 11.