Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander returns to Israel after Hamas release

Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group’s October 7 attack.

Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group’s October 7 attack. Hamas announced Sunday night it had agreed to free Alexander, 21, after several days of talks with the United States as part of an effort to reach a ceasefire and resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The group handed Alexander to the Red Cross on Monday, and he returned to Israeli soil shortly later. He later arrived at an Israeli military base for a medical assessment and a long-awaited reunion with his family. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said he has spoken with his mother, Yael, over the phone. Alexander, wearing a black Adidas t-shirt and a baseball cap, was photographed during his handover to the Red Cross, shortly before his convoy left Khan Younis and headed towards Israel. In a living room in Tel Aviv, footage showed his family celebrating each update around his release. His release comes just one day before US President Donald Trump begins a Middle East tour, with stops planned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A New Jersey native, Alexander was serving in the Israeli military near the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Alexander’s mother Yael described her son as “such an American kid, full of life, very funny, very friendly” in an interview with CNN in March.