Hamas, on Monday, released Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza following a direct deal between the group and the United States government, which surprisingly circumvented the Israeli government. 

Mr Alexander was handed over to Red Cross officials by Hamas and was subsequently taken to an Israeli military base for medical assessment and a long-awaited reunion with his family.

The agreement to release the 21-year-old was reached on Sunday night following several days of talks between Hamas and officials of the Trump administrations, with the group hoping to reach a ceasefire deal and resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Mr Alexander, who is an American-Israeli citizen, was among roughly 250 people seized and taken to Gaza during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that ignited the war in Gaza.

Unlike the previous deals for hostages release, this was done without a formally announced ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with the Trump administration also bypassing the Israeli government by negotiating directly with Hamas. 

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Monday that “along with all the defense establishments, the Israeli government will support his reception and accompany him and his family.”

The statement added, “The government of Israel is committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons – both the living and the dead,” Netanyahu’s office said. “We will continue operating tirelessly until the return of everyone home to Israel.”