A senior Hamas official tells Newsweek that the Palestinian militant group saw "positive" potential in signs of a growing rift between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after offering the U.S. leader a political win in the form of an American hostage release ahead of his Middle East trip.

Hamas says Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the territory and resume the delivery of aid

Hamas militants engaged in "fierce fighting" with Israeli soldiers on Thursday in the south of the Gaza Strip near Rafah, the Palestinian militant group said.

Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas sent its congratulations to new Pope Leo XIV and voiced hope that he would follow his predecessor Pope Francis when it comes to the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel's foreign ministry also congratulated the new pope, the first from the United States, who was elected on Thursday.