Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, has been freed after spending nearly two years as a hostage in Gaza. Captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks, Alexander was the last known American being held by Hamas.
His release was coordinated with the help of international mediators and took place with limited involvement from Israeli authorities. The timing coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, with the release characterized by Hamas as a goodwill gesture toward the United States.
Following his release, Alexander was handed over to Israeli forces and brought to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, where he reunited with his family and began receiving medical care.
In his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, residents gathered to celebrate his safe return while also remembering those who remain in captivity. More than 50 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, and efforts to secure their release continue amid fragile ceasefire negotiations.
Alexander’s release marks a major breakthrough in a complex and ongoing hostage crisis that has drawn international concern and intensified calls for broader resolution in the region.