Hamas announced on Friday that it will release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held in Gaza.
The 21-year-old from New Jersey is expected to be the only living hostage in the upcoming release, which will also include the bodies of four dual nationals who died in captivity, according to the terror group.
Details about the timing of the transfer and the parties involved in negotiating the deal remain unclear. Hamas did not provide further information, and Israel did not immediately comment.
Alexander, an American-Israeli who joined the Israeli military, was just 19 years old when he was abducted from his base in southern Israel during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.
The Trump administration has pushed for Alexander’s release as a “top priority”.
Edan Alexander is critical to us — as all the hostages are — but Edan Alexander is an American, he’s injured, he’s a top priority for “s,” said Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff last week.
In recent days, talks between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler had reportedly focused on securing Alexander’s release.
This development follows the White House’s surprise announcement that American officials had been engaged in “ongoing talks” with Hamas representatives — a significant shift from the US’ long-standing policy of avoiding direct contact with terror groups.
It remains unclear if these recent discussions played a role in Hamas’Â decision to release Alexander.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue in Qatar as mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt work to advance the second phase of the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The discussions aim to secure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza and facilitate the delivery of aid to the region.
On March 2, Israel blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza amid growing tensions over the truce, prompting Hamas to call on mediators for assistance.
The pause in fighting, implemented since January 19, marked the first phase of a three-part cease-fire agreement. So far, Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
