Edan Alexander has been reunited along with his household after the Palestinian group let him go as a “goodwill gesture” to Trump
The final US citizen held hostage by Hamas, Edan Alexander, has been reunited along with his household after the Palestinian group launched him on Monday.
Hamas mentioned the discharge was a “goodwill gesture” to US President Donald Trump, who’s touring Gulf Arab states this week, as Washington continues efforts to dealer a ceasefire between the militants and Israel.
The 21-year-old Israeli-American had been serving within the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) when he was captured on the border of Gaza through the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on southern Israel. Through the assault, roughly 1,200 Israelis have been killed and round 250 hostages taken, making it the deadliest day within the nation’s historical past. In response, Israel launched a sustained army marketing campaign in Gaza geared toward destroying Hamas.
Following negotiations with the US on Sunday – mediated by Egypt and Qatar – the Palestinian group introduced that it might launch Alexander as a part of efforts to succeed in a ceasefire and facilitate the supply of humanitarian support into Gaza.
On Monday, the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) paused army operations within the Palestinian enclave for a number of hours to permit Alexander’s switch. He has since been reunited along with his household at an Israeli army base.
US President Donald Trump was the primary to announce that Alexander can be launched, writing on his Reality Social account on Sunday that it was a “step taken in good religion” by Hamas in direction of ending the “very brutal conflict” and returning all dwelling hostages and stays to their family members.
The following day, Trump confirmed that Alexander was being let go and congratulated his mother and father, household and buddies. He additionally shared a video displaying his particular envoy Steve Witkoff, who personally traveled to Israel to supervise the switch, giving Alexander’s mother a telephone to speak to her son shortly after his launch.
Alexander’s household later shared an announcement thanking Trump and urging the Israeli authorities and negotiators to proceed efforts to launch the remaining 58 hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Alexander’s launch got here due to Israel’s army stress in Gaza and political stress by the US president.
IDF hearth resumed after the discharge with authorities in Gaza saying an air strike killed three individuals and wounded a number of others at a shelter housing displaced households in Khan Younis within the southern a part of the enclave.
Netanyahu emphasised that the momentary pause in army operations was solely to facilitate Alexander’s secure switch and didn’t signify a broader truce. He additional acknowledged that Israel plans to accentuate its army operations in Gaza.
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