United States special envoy Adam Boehler has said there was a better chance now to secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages held in Gaza following the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander by Hamas yesterday.
Mr Boehler was speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv
Israel's military received Mr Alexander, 21, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which facilitated his transfer from Palestinian militant 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."
He kissed and embraced his father, brother and sister. An Israeli Air Force helicopter then took the family to a hospital where he was to receive treatment.
Mr 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.
Flag-waving crowds gathered to greet the convoy carrying Mr Alexander, and in Tenafly, New Jersey, where he grew up, large crowds celebrated his release.
Close friends and family chanted his name and applauded at the news that Mr Alexander had been freed, footage released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum showed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Mr Alexander's return, adding: "The government of Israel is committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons - both the living and the fallen."
He credited "political pressure" from US President Donald Trump and "our military pressure" for the release.
In a statement, the Forum urged Mr Netanyahu to say he was "ready to negotiate a comprehensive agreement" to bring home all the hostages.
Meirav Etrogbar, 52, a volunteer at the Forum, said: "They should stop the war and bring all the hostages back home in a deal, not military pressure."
'Intensification of fighting'
Mr Alexander's release comes a day after Hamas revealed it was engaged in direct talks with the US towards a Gaza ceasefire.
"We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations yield results in the release of prisoners, while the continuation of aggression prolongs their suffering and may kill them," a Hamas statement said.
"We urge President Trump's administration to continue its efforts to end this brutal war," it added.
Mr Alexander was the last living hostage in Gaza with American citizenship. His release came with Mr Trump heading for Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a regional tour.
Negotiations for a possible deal to secure the release of all hostages would continue "under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting", Mr Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, the UN and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that Gaza was at "critical risk of famine", with 22% of the population facing an imminent humanitarian "catastrophe" after more than two months of a total aid blockade by Israel.
Ahead of Mr Alexander's release, a Hamas source said that mediators informed the group that Israel would halt military operations for the handover of the soldier.
The pause offered a much-needed respite for residents of the war-battered territory.
Gaza's civil defence agency earlier reported at least ten people killed in an overnight Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people.
'Good faith gesture'
After Hamas announced on Sunday it would release Mr Alexander, Mr Trump hailed the "monumental news" in a post on social media, describing it as a "good faith gesture".
"Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict," he added.
Egypt and Qatar, which along with the United States have mediated talks between Hamas and Israel, called it "an encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table" in a joint statement.
Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, 57 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel ended a two-month ceasefire on 18 March, ramping up its bombardment of the territory.
Earlier this month, Israel's government approved plans to expand its Gaza offensive, with officials talking of retaining a long-term presence there.
Hamas's 2023 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 2,749 people have been killed since Israel resumed its campaign, bringing the overall death toll since the war broke out to 52,862.
