The military "is preparing for the return of the hostage Edan Alexander, who will be transferred by a special unit to the initial reception facility in Re'im" near the Gaza border in southern Israel, the official said.

The official, who requested anonymity to speak on the matter, added that Alexander would "receive initial medical and psychological care" from army medical professionals before reuniting with his family.

"Edan Alexander's family members will wait for him at the initial reception facility... and afterwards, they will be airlifted together with Edan to continue his treatment at Ichilov Hospital" in Tel Aviv, the official said.

Hamas's armed wing said it would release Alexander on Monday. He is the last living hostage in Gaza with American citizenship.

Alexander was deployed near Gaza's perimeter for his military service when he was taken hostage from the military outpost where he was stationed during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

"Edan Alexander's return will follow the same procedure used in previous hostage returns," the Israeli official said.

This would involve "a transfer from the Red Cross to a special (Israeli army) unit, through the initial reception facility in Re'im, and from there an air transfer to the hospital for continued treatment", he said.

A Hamas source told AFP that mediators informed the group that Israel would pause military operations for the handover of the 21-year-old soldier.

A source close to the militant group told AFP that Hamas had decided not to hold a public ceremony for the handover, as it had for previous hostage releases.