Hamas has agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen who is believed to be the last American captive in Gaza. This decision comes after weeks of Hamas stating they had lost contact with the group holding him hostage. The release of Alexander is part of the efforts to achieve a ceasefire, open crossings, and allow aid, as stated by Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating team. There is no information provided on Alexander’s current condition.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement and mentioned that he is traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release. The family of Alexander, Adi and Yael Alexander, expressed their joy and gratitude towards the agreement. They are in touch with the U.S. administration regarding the potential release of their son in the coming days.
Alexander, who was serving in the Israel Defense Forces, was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with around 250 others. Hamas had previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals, but lost contact with the group holding him hostage later on.
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel had led to a temporary ceasefire in January, resulting in the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody and aid for Gaza. However, the ceasefire broke down in March due to stalled negotiations on a sustainable end to the conflict.
Hamas has expressed readiness to negotiate and make efforts towards ending the war. Meanwhile, there are uncertainties about Gaza’s future following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to capture the entire enclave, which involves moving over 2 million Palestinians out. The situation has been further complicated by disagreements on how to handle Gaza and Iran, leading to tensions between Trump and Netanyahu.
Netanyahu denied reports of strained relations with Trump, stating their alliance is strong and they share similar views on many issues.
