THE last-known living American hostage kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 has been released from Gaza.
Edan Alexander, 21, an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the US, was abducted from his base during the terrorist raid 583 days ago.
He was handed over to the Red Cross and left Gaza through the Kissufim crossing.
The release occurs after several days of direct talks between Hamas and the US, where Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff was reportedly a significant figure, along with Egyptian and Qatari involvement.
The release is promoted as a “goodwill” gesture from Hamas, as it is not anticipated to result in any Palestinian prisoners being freed from Israel.
Khalil Al-Hayya, leading Hamas’s negotiation team, expressed that the group desires “intensive negotiations” and “serious attempts to achieve a conclusive agreement to cease the war”.
He added that they were ready to “exchange prisoners in an agreed manner, and manage the Gaza Strip by an independent professional body”.
Before the release, Trump hailed the “monumental news” and said it was “a step taken in good faith”.
This morning, he wrote: “Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be release by Hamas. Great news!”
Egypt and Qatar released a joint statement lauding the “encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table”.
The Israeli Prime Minster’s office said it had not committed to any ceasefire but only to a “safe corridor” for Edan’s release, and reasserted their policy of conducting negotiations “under fire”.
It added that Israel was still gearing up to expand its operation in Gaza – and credited Edan’s release to military pressure on Hamas.
Edan was almost released once before, but that was abandoned over fears it would drive a wedge between the US and Israel.
Born in Israel’s capital Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, Edan was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza when he was abducted.
His family called his release “the greatest gift imaginable” and thanked Trump, Witkoff and the US government.
The families of other hostages said they were pleased for Edan’s family, but frustrated by the lack of progress more broadly.
Dani Miran, the father of hostage Omri Miran, said it was a shame that families of hostages need foreign passports to release their loved ones.
He added: “Does this country [Israel] not know how to protect our citizens?”
Edan’s release is seen as an effort by Hamas to build a relationship with the US, and coincides with President Trump’s visit to the Middle East.
In the first state visit of his second term, Trump is arriving in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, and will then visit Qatar and the UAE – but not Israel.
There are growing reports of a rift between Israel and the US – though both sides have played that down.
Hamas took 251 hostages when it launched the October 7 terror attack over the border in Israel.
Of those, 58 now remain in Gaza, with up to 23 thought to still be alive.
Hamas released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19, but which ultimately broke down.
In March, Israel’s military resumed its offensive on Gaza – blaming Hamas’s refusal to release more hostages before negotiations proceeded.
It now holds around a third of the land in the Gaza strip and has enforced a total blockade – preventing humanitarian aid from entering.
This is fuelling a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the roughly two million is struggling to find food and basic medical supplies.
Israeli officials said that the offensive will continue until the remaining hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarised.
Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.
Israel last week began preparations for a major escalation in Gaza, which could stretch to it conquering the entire strip.
The government called up tens of thousands of reserve troops soldiers in readiness for the escalation.
The move would vastly expand Israel’s operations across the 25-mile long area and likely bring fierce international opposition inside Israel.
Officials said the new plan was meant to help Israel achieve its war aims of defeating Hamas and freeing hostages held in Gaza.
It also would push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed by in 19 months of war, following the deadly October 7 terror attack.
A senior UN official said on Monday that a hunger report on Gaza is extremely concerning.
Beth Bechdol, deputy director of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said: “We are moving into a period where the entire population of the Gaza Strip are continuing to face a very critical risk of famine and extreme hunger and malnutrition.”
Will there be peace in Gaza?
By Patrick Harrington, foreign news reporter.
THE closest that Israel and Hamas have come to reaching peace was a two-month ceasefire from January to March.
The agreement sketched out a path to the end of the war and a timescale for the release of all the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Hamas released 38 Israeli hostages during those weeks in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
But Israel resumed its aerial and ground offensives in Gaza on March 18 after Hamas refused new terms which involved the release of more hostages.
The Israeli military described the action as “pre-emptive strikes […] based on Hamas’s readiness to execute terror attacks, build up force and re-arm”.
Hamas accused Israel of having “decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement”.
It has said it is willing to release all the remaining hostages if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.
However, Israel’s recent declaration that it is gearing up to take the whole of the Gaza strip makes this seem further than ever.
Some believe that prime minister Netanyahu is deliberately extending the war for political purposes.
He was facing corruption charges before the October 7 attack, and its possible he believes a longer war will stave those off.
However, pressure is building on him at home and abroad to reach a ceasefire agreement, particularly as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza persists.
There are reports that President Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu’s position.
