GAZA STRIP (TNND) — An American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip is expected to be released on Monday.

Edan Alexander was taken from his military base in southern Israel during Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023. His release would be the first since Israel broke an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March, killing more than 400 Palestinians during an airstrike.

According to Israel, 59 hostages remain in captivity, including Alexander, and about 24 are alive, with the remaining deceased. Many of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the 2023 attack were freed in ceasefire deals.

President Donald Trump called the release "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."

“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump is set to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday and will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

An Israeli official said that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff was expected in Israel on Monday and would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet to discuss nuclear talks with Iran and efforts to free more hostages. The official spoke on condition to of anonymity in line with regulations.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing the captives' families, released a statement from Alexander's family on Sunday.

"Today, on Mother's Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza," the family said. "We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the US administration for their tireless work to make this happen. We urge the Israeli government and the negotiating teams: please don't stop. We hope our son's release begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families. No hostage should be left behind."

A statement from Netanyahu's office said Israel did not commit to a ceasefire or to free Palestinian prisoners as part of the release, only that it had agreed to create a "safe corridor" to allow for Alexander to be returned.

"We are in the midst of critical days in which Hamas has been presented with a deal that would enable the release of our hostages," the statement added. "The negotiations will continue under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting."

Critics accuse Netanyahu of not doing enough to free the hostages, saying his insistence on keeping up the war in Gaza is politically motivated. Netanyahu says he aims to achieve Israel's twin war goals, freeing the hostages and dismantling

Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 captive in the 2023 attack.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians. It obliterated vast swaths of Gaza's urban landscape and displaced 90% of the population, often multiple times.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.