Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli hostage, was released on Monday after spending 584 days in captivity with Hamas. The 21-year-old’s release was facilitated by negotiations led by the Trump administration, marking a significant departure from previous exchanges where Hamas typically received Arab prisoners in return.
Born in Rockville, Maryland, and raised in New Jersey, Edan joined the Israel Defense Forces after high school. He was captured during the Hamas attack on October 7 while stationed at a small outpost near Kibbutz Nir Oz. Throughout his time in captivity, Edan appeared in several propaganda videos released by Hamas. His release makes him the first male IDF soldier taken during that attack to return home.
Edan’s parents were instrumental in advocating for his release. They met with various world leaders and participated in public events to keep their son’s story in the spotlight. As Edan returned to Israel, his mother, Yael Alexander, was present at the IDF’s Re’im base on the Gaza border to welcome him. His grandmother, Varda, prepared his favorite meals and interacted with the media.
Unlike previous hostage handovers, Edan was transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross in Khan Younis without a public ceremony, which had often been used by Hamas to embarrass hostages. After his release, the Alexander family mentioned that Edan might travel to Qatar to meet President Trump, depending on his health condition.
In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) earlier this year, Edan’s father, Adi Alexander, described his son as an “all-American kid” who enlisted in the IDF during a gap year out of love for both the United States and Israel. Adi expressed gratitude for Trump’s involvement, noting that the president was shocked to learn that 45 Americans were killed during the October 7 attacks.
Currently, 58 hostages remain in Gaza, including the bodies of four American citizens. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum recently published an ad in the New York Post urging that these individuals not be forgotten and calling for continued efforts to secure their release. Speaking at the White House, Trump expressed hope for the release of more hostages, stating that only 20 hostages are believed to still be alive.
In a statement, Hamas indicated that Edan’s release reflects its willingness to engage in serious negotiations. This move is seen as a step toward a potential ceasefire and the opening of aid channels for the people in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Trump has initiated plans for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza while attempting to prevent Hamas from exploiting the situation. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, emphasized that private firms would handle the distribution of this aid to ensure it reaches those in need without benefiting Hamas.
As tensions remain high, Israel has approved a new military operation plan, “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” which could be enacted if negotiations with Hamas do not yield results by the end of Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East. This visit includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16, marking the second foreign trip of his second term.