Hamas to release American hostage Edan Alexander, confirms Trump

Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform: "EDAN ALEXANDER, AMERICAN HOSTAGE THOUGHT DEAD, TO BE RELEASED BY HAMAS. GREAT NEWS!"

Edan's mother arrives in Israel

Yael Alexander, the mother of hostage Edan, has arrived in Israel ahead of his release.

Speaking to The Times of Israel, she said other hostages, who are still in Hamas captivity, cannot be forgotten.

She said: "This isn’t over. We have more hostages in Gaza. The moment that Edan comes out, there will still be 58 there."

“We cannot rest and we cannot forget, everyone needs to come home," she said.

The release could be as early as Monday but is more likely to occur on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Starvation looms in Gaza: Experts

Meanwhile, Gazans remain at “critical risk of famine”, UN-backed food security experts warned on Monday, a full 19 months since war began with Israel and 70 days since deliveries stopped of all aid and commercial supplies.

“Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks…The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity,” said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform.

In its latest update, the IPC estimated that one in five people in Gaza – 500,000 – faces starvation.

Prices have soared for basics such as a 25 kilogramme sack of wheat flour, which now costs between $235 and $520, representing a 3,000 per cent price spike since February.

“In a scenario of a protracted and large-scale military operation and continuation of the humanitarian and commercial blockade, there would be a critical lack of access to supplies and services that are essential to survival,” the IPC said.