Following 19 months of being taken captive by Hamas in Gaza, Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has been reunited with his family in Israel.
The 21-year-old was taken prisoner by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, while he was serving in the Israeli army at the Gaza border.
To make the transfer possible, Israel temporarily suspended its military activities in Gaza on Monday. As part of efforts to secure a fresh ceasefire agreement ahead of US President Donald Trump’s arrival to the Middle East on Tuesday, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the release was meant as a goodwill gesture.
Mr. Alexander is believed to have been the only surviving US citizen detained by Hamas. On his release, President Trump congratulated his family.
At an Israeli military base, Edan Alexander is shown smiling in television footage while embracing his parents and siblings.
His family thanked the US president in a statement, but they also urged the Israeli government and negotiators to keep up their efforts to free the remaining 58 hostages.
After a two-month ceasefire ended, Israel resumed its military offensive on March 18, making Mr. Alexander the first hostage released by Hamas.
In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, he was seen on Monday with masked Hamas members as they turned him over to Red Cross personnel.
After being turned over to Israeli officials in Gaza, he was reunited with his family in southern Israel. According to the Israeli military, it offered a “safe corridor” for Mr. Alexander’s liberation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s X account posted a video of Yael Alexander talking on the phone with her son.
“You’re powerful. You are protected. She said in the video, “You are home.”
– Deeprows News
