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After nearly 600 days in captivity, Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, was freed and reunited with his family in Israel on Monday.
The 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, originally from New Jersey, had been captured during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and over 250 taken hostage.
President Donald Trump announced Alexander’s release on May 11 in a Truth Social post, calling it “great news” and confirming that Alexander would be returning home. “Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!” he wrote.
The release was reportedly achieved through indirect negotiations between the United States and Hamas, led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, with key support from Qatar and Egypt.
Trump praised the outcome as a step “taken in good faith” and signaled hope for a broader cease-fire. “This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators—Qatar and Egypt—to put an end to this very brutal war,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on May 12 that he met with both Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and personally thanked President Trump for his role in securing Alexander’s freedom.
Netanyahu has since dispatched a negotiating team to Qatar in hopes of securing the release of the remaining 58 hostages, including the bodies of four other Americans.
Hamas described Alexander’s release as a goodwill gesture directed at the Trump administration.
A senior Hamas official told NPR, “We gave the Americans what they asked for. They need to get the other side to give things too.” Israel, however, maintains that the release was unconditional.
After being handed over to the International Red Cross, Alexander was brought back into Israeli territory, where he received preliminary medical and psychological evaluations from the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps.
Photos of his emotional reunion with family members began circulating around 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday. One widely shared image showed Alexander holding a sign reading “Thank you President Trump.”
The soldier’s family released a statement calling his return “the greatest gift imaginable,” coming just in time for Mother’s Day. Though his return to the United States has not been scheduled, Trump has extended an invitation for Alexander to meet him in Qatar if he is willing.
Alexander’s freedom marks a symbolic milestone in ongoing hostage negotiations. While Hamas has released the majority of captives, 57 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, with only 24 confirmed to be alive.
As Trump prepares for a visit to the Middle East, including Qatar—a nation known to financially support Hamas—Alexander’s release has added new momentum to U.S.-led efforts to end the war and recover the remaining hostages.