Edan Alexander: Hamas releases American-Israeli hostage

[ad_1] Jerusalem CNN —

Edan Alexander , the final recognized residing American hostage in Gaza, was launched by Hamas on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that started with the militant group’s October 7 assault.

Hamas introduced Sunday night time it had agreed to free Alexander, 21, after a number of days of talks with america as a part of an effort to achieve a ceasefire and resume the stream of humanitarian help into Gaza.

The group handed Alexander to the Purple Cross on Monday, and he returned to Israeli soil shortly later. He later arrived at an Israeli navy base for a medical evaluation and a long-awaited reunion along with his household. The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned he has spoken along with his mom, Yael, over the telephone.

Alexander’s launch comes simply someday earlier than US President Donald Trump begins a Middle East tour , with stops deliberate in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

A New Jersey native, Alexander was serving within the Israeli navy close to the Gaza border when he was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Alexander’s mom Yael described her son as “such an American child, energetic, very humorous, very pleasant” in an interview with CNN in March.

Following Alexander’s launch, 58 hostages are nonetheless being held in Gaza, with a minimum of 20 believed to be alive. Among the many deceased hostages are 4 Americans, together with husband and spouse Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai, in addition to troopers Itay Chen and Omer Neutra.

The workplace of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in a press release Monday that “together with all of the protection institution, the Israeli authorities will assist his reception and accompany him and his household.”

“The federal government of Israel is dedicated to the return of all hostages and lacking individuals – each the residing and the useless,” Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned. “We'll proceed working tirelessly till the return of everybody house, to Israel.”

Alexander’s household described information of his impending launch on Mom’s Day as “the best reward possible” and thanked Trump, his Center East envoy Steve Witkoff and the US administration for his or her “tireless work to make this occur.”

Alexander’s mom boarded a flight to Israel on Sunday night time to satisfy her son after his launch. A photograph posted by US Particular Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler confirmed Yael Alexander on a industrial flight with the envoy’s staff.

Trump hailed the event as “monumental information” in a publish on Reality Social, the place he described Alexander’s launch by Hamas as a “step taken in good religion towards america and the efforts of the mediators – Qatar and Egypt – to place an finish to this very brutal warfare and return ALL residing hostages and stays to their family members.”

Hamas chief Mahmoud Mardawi informed the Hamas-affiliated Al Aqsa TV that the militant group, labeled as a terrorist group by the US and Israel, instantly negotiated with the US to free Alexander in trade for the resumption of humanitarian help into Gaza.

Witkoff informed CNN the talks with Hamas had been oblique. He's anticipated to satisfy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday afternoon, based on a supply conversant in the matter.

Alexander was final seen in a proof-of-life video in mid-April through which he appealed on to Trump for assist in securing his launch. Simply days later, Hamas claimed they'd misplaced contact with the group of militants holding Alexander.

Gaza is on the brink of famine as Israel’s blockade of humanitarian help and industrial items stretches into its second month, depleting meals warehouses and soup kitchens, and sending the price of fundamental items skyrocketing.

Israel says it reduce off the entry of humanitarian help to strain Hamas to launch hostages. However worldwide organizations say its actions violate worldwide regulation, with some accusing Israel of utilizing hunger as a weapon of warfare – a warfare crime.

Israel has not mentioned if it'll resume humanitarian help into Gaza.

Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned in a press release on Monday that Israel has not dedicated to a ceasefire, nor the discharge of any Palestinian prisoners, solely to “a protected hall that may permit for Edan’s launch.”

In a publish on social media Sunday night time, Trump mentioned he hoped the discharge would result in the “finish (of) this brutal battle.” However the long-time Israeli prime minister has mentioned that “negotiations will happen below hearth.”