The release is part of broader ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian arrangements, according to Hamas and Israeli officials.
By Joe D
TEL / GAZA CITY AVIV, May 12 – As part of continuing peace talks and humanitarian activities, Hamas said on Sunday it will free Edan Alexander, American-Israeli dual citizen, the last known live U.S. hostage in Gaza.
Since Hamas’s unexpected onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, during which hundreds died and dozens of Israeli and foreign captives were captured, Alexander, 20, has been in captivity. When he was taken, he was working in the elite Golani Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces.
A Move Toward Ceasefire
Hamas stated in an Arabic statement translated into English, “The Israeli soldier with dual American citizenship, Edan Alexander, will be released as part of the steps being taken toward a ceasefire, the opening of border crossings, and the entry of aid and relief for our people in the Gaza Strip.”
The organization also indicated its readiness to start “intensive negotiations” for a complete prisoner exchange and a more general peace agreement, saying that a “independent professional body” should run the Gaza Strip going forward.
According to sources close to the situation, Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, is scheduled to land in Tel Aviv on Monday morning to assist in the release’s facilitation.
“Given the haste of negotiations as Israel indicates plans to increase military activity in Gaza in the next days, a source close to the talks called this a complete goodwill gesture.
During a private Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also noted the circumstances, claiming Hamas might shortly free Alexander.
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Political Calculations and Humanitarian Stakes
The suggested release coincides with more general Egyptian, Qatari, and American attempts to mediate a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, which has been under severe embargo for more than two months. With pressing demands for food, medication, and fuel, aid groups have continuously sounded alarms about worsening conditions in the enclave.
According to Hamas, vital components of the proposed deal framework being negotiated with mediators were opening border crossings and providing humanitarian assistance.
Hamas announces the imminent release of the last known living American hostage held in Gaza, Edan Alexander https://t.co/F53JrbZKu7
— CNN (@CNN) May 11, 2025
The Man Behind the Headlines
Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Edan Alexander moved to Israel at age eighteen to enlist for service in the Israeli military. A “lone soldier” with no immediate family in the nation, he resided with his grandparents in Tel Aviv and in Kibbutz Hazor.
He could travel home for the weekend on October 7, the morning of his capture, but he decided to stay on base since he didn’t want to leave his unit short-handed. At the time, his mother was in Israel.
American and Israeli politicians alike have taken note of Alexander’s narrative as typical of the sacrifice and service countless diaspora Jews serving in the IDF have displayed.
What Comes Next?
Though diplomatic channels stay active and the truce framework intact, officials from both sides say Alexander’s release could happen soon but it is still unknown when precisely.
Though significant challenges still exist on both sides of the negotiation table, if successful the release might indicate the start of more extensive prisoner exchanges and a revived drive for de-escalation in the region.
Last Thought
Amid months of destruction and impasse, the possible release of Edan Alexander provides a ray of hope. Whether it ignites a larger peace process stays to be seen, but for Alexander’s family and community, the announcement signifies a long-awaited breakthrough.
