Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas and reunited with his family on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group’s October 7 attack. Alexander, 21, was abducted by Hamas while serving in the Israeli military near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. His mother, Yael, described him as “such an American kid, full of life, very funny, very friendly” in an interview with CNN in March.
The release came after several days of talks between the United States and Hamas, which bypassed Israel. US President Donald Trump hailed the development as “monumental news” in a post on Truth Social, where he described Alexander’s release by Hamas as a “step taken in good faith toward the United States and the efforts of the mediators – Qatar and Egypt – to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.” Trump added that he hoped the release would lead to the “end (of) this brutal conflict.”
Reunion with Family
Alexander was photographed during his handover to the Red Cross, shortly before his convoy left Khan Younis and headed towards Israel. He later arrived at an Israeli military base for a medical assessment and a long-awaited reunion with his family. Footage shared by the Israel Defense Forces showed Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East envoy, handing a phone to Yael. “You’re out, my soul, you’re out!” she exclaimed in the emotional clip. “Everything’s alright, you’re fine, you’re safe, you’re home. Everything is good. You’ve got this. You’re strong. We’re meeting soon.”
In Tel Aviv, Alexander was shown holding US and Israeli flags as he embraced members of his family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Monday “a very emotional moment,” praising Trump for securing Alexander’s release and defending his ongoing campaign in Gaza. “This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination,” Netanyahu said.
Remaining Hostages
Following Alexander’s release, 58 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. Among the deceased hostages are four American citizens, including husband and wife Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai, as well as soldiers Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. Alexander’s parents had fought tirelessly for his release, with Yael saying in March that she prayed and hoped she would see her son again. “I’m a mom I just want to hold him again, and to say ‘Edan, you’re safe, you’re home.’”
Humanitarian Aid and Ceasefire
The release comes as Gaza is on the brink of famine due to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid and commercial goods. Israel says it cut off the entry of humanitarian aid to pressure Hamas to release hostages, but international organizations say its actions violate international law. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Monday that Israel has not committed to a ceasefire, nor the release of any Palestinian prisoners, only to “a safe corridor that will allow for Edan’s release.” Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, welcomed efforts to halt the war and issued rare praise for Trump.