Hamas sent a kind gesture to Donald Trump on Monday before the U.S. president headed to the Gulf this week to Edan Alexander.
Israeli military said Alexander returned to Israel after Palestinian militants handed him to the Red Cross of the Gaza city of Khan Yunis.
Hamas captured a 21-year-old Alexander, who served in the Israeli army in a cross-border attack in Gaza on October 7, 2023, and triggered the war.
He will be the first hostages since the end of a ceasefire deal before March, after which Israel broke the truce with Hamas.
The Israeli military appeared to have stopped most offensive operations in Gaza earlier on Monday to ensure the switch.
Hamas official Halil al-Hayya has said that the move to release Alexander shows the organization's "high enthusiasm" to ensure a long ceasefire with Israel and end the war in Gaza.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the release was obtained directly between U.S. officials and Hamas without any "conditions" such as a ceasefire or the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Alexander is believed to have been captured along with 58 other hostages. Israel believes more than half of the people died, including four dual Israeli American nationals.
"This is a step forward in sincerity to the United States, and the efforts of the mediators - the efforts of Qatar and Egypt to end this brutal war and return all living hostages to their loved ones," said Alexander's social media post (will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday).
"We hope we will release other hostages as well," Trump said on Monday when asked if he hopes the ceasefire will continue.
Alexander's family traveled from the United States and met him at an Israel Defense Force base in the south of the country. He was supposed to receive preliminary medical services before he planned to transfer to the hospital for further examinations.
Steve Witkoff, a senior Trump administration official, and Adam Boehler, who was released by Alexander, were also present at the base.
International mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt hope to use Alexander's return to defeat a more durable ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Netanyahu said on Monday that he had spoken with Trump and thanked the U.S. president for securing Alexander's release, adding that he sent an Israeli negotiating team to Doha on Tuesday.
But Israeli leaders once again insist that any agreement would be a temporary, multi-week truce to ensure more hostages are returned.
Israeli officials said last week that the end of Trump's regional visit provided Hamas with a "window of opportunity" to release more hostages before Israel expands its new offensive in Gaza.
Netanyahu reopened its military campaign against Hamas in March to put pressure on the group to release other hostages. Since then, Israel has also cut off all aid to Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The Israeli Prime Minister has refused to meet Hamas' core demand that he ended the conflict in exchange for the rest of the hostages, but instead vowed to continue the war until the militant group was defeated.
Netanyahu repeated on Monday again: “The negotiations will only take place under the fire.”
According to local officials, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 52,000 people since the war began, and Israeli officials said 1,200 people were killed and about 250 people took hostages in the October 7 attack.
On Monday, those relatives of Israeli people still hold hostages begged the U.S. president to intervene again and ensure their freedom: "President Trump - please don't stop. This is just the first step. Do whatever is necessary and bring each last home."