GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas on Tuesday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 claim that military pressure had helped secure the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza a day earlier.

鈥淭he return of Edan Alexander is the result of serious communications with the US administration and the efforts of mediators, not a consequence of Israeli aggression or the illusion of military pressure,鈥� the Palestinian militant group said in a statement.

鈥淣etanyahu is misleading his people and has failed to bring back his prisoners through aggression,鈥� Hamas added.

The armed wing of Hamas on Monday released 21-year-old Alexander, who had been held in Gaza since the group鈥檚 October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

Netanyahu had credited Alexander鈥檚 release to a combination of 鈥渙ur military pressure and the political pressure exerted by (US) President (Donald) Trump.鈥�

The Israeli prime minister had thanked Trump 鈥渇or his assistance in the release,鈥� and also said he had instructed a negotiating team to head to Qatar on Tuesday to discuss the release of the remaining captives.

Netanyahu on Tuesday spoke on the phone with Alexander and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was meeting the former hostage in hospital during a visit to Israel.

鈥淭he entire nation of Israel is overjoyed,鈥� Netanyahu said on the call, according to a video released by his office.

鈥淲e are grateful for American support and deeply appreciate the (Israeli) soldiers who are prepared to act by any means necessary if the remaining hostages are not released,鈥� he added.

When asked by Netanyahu how he was feeling, Alexander replied: 鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy, unbelievable. I鈥檓 okay. Weak, but slowly I鈥檒l get back to how I was before. It鈥檚 just a matter of time.鈥�

Israel鈥檚 President Isaac Herzog spoke with Alexander鈥檚 family, telling them 鈥測ou are made of steel,鈥� and assured the former captive that 鈥渢he most important thing is that you are home.鈥�

The release of Alexander 鈥� the last living hostage in Gaza with US citizenship 鈥� came a day after Hamas revealed it was engaged in direct talks with Washington toward a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump arrived in 萝莉视频 on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

鈥淭he return of Edan Alexander confirms that serious negotiations and a prisoner exchange deal are the way to bring back the prisoners and end the war,鈥� the Hamas statement said on Tuesday.

Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas鈥檚 2023 attack, 57 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel ended a two-month ceasefire on March 18, ramping up its bombardment of the territory.