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Hamas says it released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander Monday afternoon. An Israeli official confirmed the release and said he was now with the Red Cross in a statement shared with Newsweek.
Hamas said it was releasing Alexander as a goodwill gesture to try to revive talks on ending the war.
Why It Matters
The release comes just ahead of President Donald Trump's planned tour of the Middle East, the first overseas trip of his presidency.
The move could signal progress in U.S. efforts to revive a stalled Gaza deal following the collapse of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire in March, which had halted hostage releases—including an earlier, unfulfilled, Hamas pledge to free the dual national.
What To Know
"Al-Qassam Brigades decided to release the Zionist soldier who holds the American nationality on Monday, May 12, 2025," military wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a short statement via Telegram.
Trump and Hamas confirmed on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on Alexander. Hamas said in a statement that the move was part of efforts towards establishing a ceasefire and opening Israeli border crossings for humanitarian aid to enter.
Now 21 years old, Alexander was raised in New Jersey. After graduating high school, he moved to Israel in 2022 and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He was taken by Hamas from an Israeli military base during the October 7, 2023 attack in which about 250 people were abducted and 1,200 were killed, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel subsequently launched an offensive that has devastated the Gaza Strip and in which well over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health authorities in the territory.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump on Truth Social: "I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards 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. Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!"
Hamas Leader Khalil al-Hayya in Sunday statement, translated from Arabic: "The movement has shown a high level of positivity, and the Israeli soldier with dual American-Israeli citizenship, Edan Alexander, will be released as part of the steps being taken to establish a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow humanitarian aid and relief to enter for our people in the Gaza Strip. Hamas affirms its readiness to immediately begin intensive negotiations and to exert serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners under a mutually agreed framework, and have the Gaza Strip administered by an independent professional body, in a manner that ensures continued calm and stability for many years, along with reconstruction and the lifting of the blockade."
What Happens Next
President Trump has reaffirmed his pledge to secure the release of dozens of remaining hostages and end the Gaza war. His first overseas trip since re-election aims to leverage Arab alliances and ending the conflict in Gaza will be an important topic for discussion.
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About the writer
Amira El-Fekki is a Newsweek reporter based in Dubai. Her focus is reporting on politics and society in the Middle ... Read more