India, May 12 -- Amid renewed efforts to ease tensions in Gaza, Hamas on Monday released an Israeli-American soldier who had been held captive for more than 19 months.

The group framed the move as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration, potentially setting the stage for a new ceasefire with Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed that Edan Alexander had been handed over to the Red Cross and was on his way back to Israeli forces, the Associated Press reported.

He had been captured from his base in southern Israel during Hamas' cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, an attack that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

His release marks the first since Israel broke an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March, launching a wave o...