On Sunday, Hamas announced it would release Gaza’s last American hostage, Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier who was taken on October 7, 2023.
The 21-year-old’s release is set for Tuesday, according to reports from sources familiar with the matter.
Coincidentally, Donald Trump will begin a trip to the Middle East that same day. However, he hasn’t included a stop in Israel on his itinerary, focusing instead on visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, mentioned to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that he is traveling to Israel on Monday. “The goal is to bring Edan Alexander home to his family,” he stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement indicating that the U.S. is aware of Hamas’s intention to release Alexander as a goodwill gesture towards America, without any conditions attached. The U.S. is expected to engage in negotiations regarding the hostage’s release, consistent with previous frameworks that have seen U.S. acceptance of Israel’s stance.
The statement further clarified that Israel has not approved a ceasefire and plans to continue military operations in Gaza. “Negotiations will proceed while we remain committed to achieving all war objectives aligned with Israeli policies,” they said.
Notably, there’s no requirement for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Alexander. Still, as reported by Axios, a temporary ceasefire and a halt to drone operations over Gaza might be necessary to facilitate his safe departure.
Alexander’s family responded to the announcement through a statement from the Israeli Hostages and Missing Family Forum, confirming they are in ongoing contact with the U.S. government about the anticipated release of Edan in the upcoming days.
Adam Boller, the U.S. Hostage Envoy, described Alexander’s planned release as a “positive step,” urging Hamas also to release the remains of four Americans believed to have been killed in Gaza.
According to Haaretz, the deceased Americans include two who served in the Israeli military: 21-year-olds Omer Nutra and Itai Hen, along with two older individuals, Hagai Weinstein, 70, and another resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz who is also 73.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya informed the Associated Press that the group is ready to “initiate intensive negotiations soon” to reach an agreement that could bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Since last year, Israeli forces have reportedly killed over 52,800 Palestinians, while two million survivors, including infants, have been displaced due to restrictions and shortages of food and aid.
At present, 59 hostages are still in Gaza, with Trump claiming that only 21 remain alive.
The governments of Qatar and Egypt have been mediating discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza. A joint statement highlighted that Hamas’s decision to release Alexander is a “promising” gesture that could open the door for further negotiations.
Born in Israel but raised in the U.S. by Israeli parents, Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after completing high school and enlisted in the Israeli army.
His family still resides in Tenafly, New Jersey.
