Hamas has freed Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza.
Hamas announced Sunday, May 11, 2025, night that it had agreed to free Alexander, 21, after several days of talks with the United States as part of an effort to reach a ceasefire and resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Hamas handed Alexander to the Red Cross, which sent him to Israeli forces.
He will be sent to Israel via the Kissufim crossing in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
He will then be taken immediately to the Re’im airbase in southern Israel. He’ll be reunited with his mother before he’s then airlifted to a hospital in central Israel, right outside of Tel Aviv.
Alexander’s mother boarded a flight to Israel on Sunday night to meet her son after his release. A photo posted by US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler showed Yael Alexander on a commercial flight with the envoy’s team.
Alexander’s release is the first since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March, unleashing fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.
The release comes just one day before US President Donald Trump begins a Middle East tour, with stops planned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump on Sunday, 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.”
Alexander was serving in the Israeli military near the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
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.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi told the Hamas-affiliated Al Aqsa TV that the militant group, classified as a terrorist organization by the US and Israel, directly negotiated with the US to free Alexander in exchange for the resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Alexander was last seen in a proof-of-life video in mid-April in which he appealed directly to Trump for help in securing his release. Just days later, Hamas claimed they had lost contact with the group of militants holding Alexander.
Alexander’s Release Part Of Efforts To Achieve A Ceasefire
Hamas said that Alexander’s release comes as part of the efforts being made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach our people in the Gaza Strip. “This step comes after important contacts in which Hamas demonstrated positivity and high flexibility,” the Palestinian group said.
Hamas urged the US administration “to continue its efforts to end this brutal war waged by the war criminal Netanyahu against children, women, and defenceless civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
Also, Hamas reiterated that the complete withdrawal of Israel’s army must be part of Gaza ceasefire negotiations after Israel promised to continue its assault.
“We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations achieve results in the release of prisoners. However, continuing the aggression prolongs their suffering and may kill them.
“We affirm the movement’s readiness to immediately begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the siege, a prisoner exchange and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas
READ ALSO: President Mahama Champions Debt Reforms, Inclusive Growth
