Hamas announces the release of Edan Alexander, the last American hostage that is known to be alive
Militan Hamas, photo: Eyepress News / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Hamas announced on Sunday the imminent release of Edan Alexander, the last American hostage held in Gaza who knew he was alive, reports CNN, Reuters and News.ro.
Hamas chief of exile, Khalil Al-Hayya, said that the efforts to facilitate the liberation were jointly undertaken by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
The head of the Hamas negotiation team said he was in contact with the American administration “in recent days”, in discussions that “showed a high positivity”.
Following the dialogue, Hamas announced that he would free Edan Alexander, as part of the steps to a ceasefire that will allow the passage of the crossing points to the Gaza strip and bringing humanitarian aid in Gaza, following an Israeli blockade that lasts for more than two months.
“The movement states its willingness to immediately start intensive negotiations and to make serious efforts to reach a final termination of the war, to exchange prisoners in a agreed way and to manage the Gaza strip by an independent professional body,” said Khalil al-Hayya.
Breaking: Hamas Will Recease American-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander.
After 580+ Days in Captivity, Its Official. Edan Is Coming Home.
I Pray This Transfer Goes Smoothly and That Edan is Soon in his family's family. pic.twitter.com/hqsqnk1kv
– Hen Mazzig (@henmazg) May 11, 2025
“A gesture of total goodwill”
According to a familiar source with this issue, Steve Witkoff, the emissary of the Trump Administration for the Middle East, will arrive at Tel Aviv Monday morning, before the release of Alexander.
The source said that it is “a gesture of total goodwill”, especially since it comes in the context in which Israel is about to expand its military operations in Gaza.
“We will immediately go into negotiations for a peace agreement,” the source said.
During a meeting with the closed doors of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Commission, which took place on Sunday evening in Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members that Hamas could soon release American-Israeli host Edan Alexander, according to another source familiar with this issue.
