Hamas releases US hostage raising hopes of Gaza ceasefire

Hamas announced on 12th May that it had released Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living US hostage in Gaza, as it strives to restart ceasefire talks. The Palestinian militant group announced on Sunday that it had held rare direct talks with US representatives in Doha.

Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier who was abducted from his military base in southern Israel during Hamas' October cross-border attack that set off the war in Gaza — had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip for more than 19 months before being turned over to representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross according to a Hamas statement. 

Alexander's release comes as US President Trump prepares to visit the region this week.