Edan Alexander back with his family after being held hostage for 19 months by Hamas (BBC)
by Mick the Ram
After 19 months in captivity, US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander has been reunited with his family after being freed by Hamas in Gaza.
The 21-year-old had been serving in the Israeli army on the border when he was captured by militants on 7 October, 2023.
To facilitate the unexpected transfer, Israel paused its military operations in Gaza for several hours. A senior Hamas official issued a statement saying that the release was intended as a “goodwill gesture” and as part of efforts to reach a new ceasefire deal.
Mr Alexander was seen with masked Hamas fighters as they handed him over to Red Cross workers in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis and he appeared to be in good shape.
After being transferred to Israeli authorities, he was then reunited with his family and television pictures showed him smiling as he embraced his parents and siblings.
It is thought that Mr Alexander is the last US citizen who has been held by Hamas, to still be alive.
Trump sends message to family
President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said back in March that freeing Mr Alexander was a “top priority” and his name has regularly been brought up in the months since.
On being told of his release, Mr Trump offered his personal “congratulations” to his family, saying: “It’s big news, he’s coming home to his parents, which is really great news; they thought he was dead.”
First hostage release in months
Mr Alexander is the first hostage to be freed by Hamas since Israel restarted its military offensive on 18 March, after a two-month ceasefire came to an end.
In a statement, his family thanked the US president, but also urged the Israeli government and negotiators to continue working to free the 58 remaining hostages.
Netanyahu fixed in his objectives
The Israeli military said it provided a “safe corridor” for his release and a video shared on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s X account showed his mother, Yael, speaking lovingly to her son over the phone, stating: “You are strong, you are protected, you are home!”
Mr Netanyahu reiterated that there would be no new ceasefire or prisoner releases in exchange for this release, but did add: “We are in the midst of critical days in which Hamas has been presented with a deal that would enable the release of our hostages.”
Clinging to hope
Hamas had released a video of Mr Alexander in November during the “Thanksgiving” weekend, which according to his mother, is his “favourite holiday”.
In disturbing images, Mr Alexander was seen to cry and plead for help, and although it was distressing for his family to see, they were consoled by learning that he was at least still alive.
Hamas statement
Fast forward to present day and Hamas have issued their own statement after the release: “The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades released the captured Israeli soldier, Edan Alexander, a US citizen, a short while ago, following contacts with the US administration.”
They said it was undertaken as part of the efforts being made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach people in the Gaza Strip.
Threat remains for other hostages
Hamas urged the Trump administration to continue its efforts to end the war being waged by, in their words: “the war criminal Netanyahu” against children, women, and defenceless civilians.
They insist they are demonstrating positivity and high flexibility, but said that continued aggression by Israel “prolongs the suffering of the hostages” and “may kill them”.
Crisis out of control
Israel restarted their assault on Gaza in March after a ceasefire brokered in January fell apart. No aid has entered the territory since 2 March and only last week Mr Netanyahu said Israel now plan to capture the entire Gaza strip and leave troops there, indefinitely.
The plan would see hundreds of thousands of Palestinians pushed to southern Gaza, intensifying the humanitarian crisis which is already in essence, out of control.
Missing families group continue to press same message
Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 attack, 59 remain captive, with up to 24 of them believed to be alive.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement after the latest development: “After 584 agonising days in captivity, Edan has returned home – to his family who worked tirelessly for his release, to his friends, and to an entire nation that fought and prayed for his return.”
Reminding the outside world that others are still being held, they said his release offered “a ray of light and hope” but repeated their message that not a single hostage can be left behind.
“Without bringing everyone home, there can be no true victory, no healing, and no rebuilding as a nation. The return of all hostages is our generation’s most urgent and critical mission.”
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