Freed Israeli-American hostage leaves Gaza

Highlights:

• Short fighting pause allowed safe passage to Israel for Edan Alexander
• No agreement on wider truce and shelling resumes after handover
• Global monitor warns of famine in Gaza
• Qatar and Egypt say release an encouraging step
• Israel says plans for expanded Gaza operation continue

An Israeli-American hostage was released from 19 months of captivity in Gaza during a brief pause in fighting on Monday and reunited with his family, but Israeli strikes on the battered enclave soon resumed.

Israel's military received Edan Alexander, 21, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which facilitated his transfer from Palestinian fighter group Hamas.

He was taken to an Israeli military facility and joined by his family. Video showed that his mother, Yael Alexander, cried as she hugged him, saying: "How strong you are. I love you so much, Edan. We were so worried."

Alexander kissed and embraced his father, brother and sister as well. An Israeli Air Force helicopter then took Alexander and his family to a hospital where he was to receive treatment.

Alexander was the last living American held by Hamas and Israel's Channel 12 said his condition was "low", without citing a source. In photos provided by Israel, he looked pale but in good spirits.

Fighting halted at midday in Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would pause its operations to allow for the hostage release.

Palestinian health officials reported Israeli tank shelling and an air attack after the hostage handover, and there was no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases as monitors warned of famine in the devastated enclave.

After Israeli fire resumed, authorities in Gaza said an air strike killed three people and wounded several others at a shelter housing displaced families in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

A woman was killed and several other people wounded when tank shells hit a school housing displaced families in the Tuffah neighborhood in the north of Gaza.

Hamas said it freed Alexander as a goodwill gesture to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region this week.

"Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!" Trump wrote on social media earlier on Monday.

Netanyahu said Alexander's release came thanks to Israel's military pressure in Gaza and political pressure by Trump.

In a photo taken on the military helicopter and released by Israel, Alexander held a sign reading: "Thank you, president Trump."

Netanyahu has said there will be no ceasefire and that plans to intensify military action in Gaza continued. "Israel has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind," Netanyahu's office said.

After growing up in New Jersey, Alexander, who has dual citizenship, moved to Israel and was serving in the Israeli army when he was captured in Hamas' 2023 attack.

Social media video on Monday showed people dancing in the square of his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, after word of his release.

The release, after four-way talks between Hamas, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, could open the way to freeing the remaining 58 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 19 months after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Qatar and Egypt said Alexander's release was an encouraging step towards new truce talks. Israel will send a delegation to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a new proposal aimed at securing further hostage releases, Netanyahu's office said.

Before Alexander's release, Gaza health authorities said an Israeli strike killed at least 15 people sheltering at a school on Monday. Israel's military said it targeted Hamas fighters there who were preparing an attack.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitor, reported on Monday that half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation and there is a critical risk of famine by September.