Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who was released by Gaza based Hamas militant group on Monday, reunited with his family in Israel after being held captive in Gaza for more than 19 months but Israeli strikes soon began in the region after Alexander was securely transferred.
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The Israel military received 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who had been serving in the army at the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas in October 2023, from the International Committee of the Red Cross which looked after the transfer of the hostage from the Palestinian militant group.
The Israeli army paused its operations in Gaza to facilitate the safe transfer of Alexander, who was taken to an Israeli military facility and later joined by his family members. His mother, Yeal Alexander, cried when she hugged him and said “How strong you are. I love you so much, Edan. We were so worried,” Reuters reported.
Edan Alexander, who has been released from captivity by Hamas, after he had been kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, reacts as he reunites with his parents in Reim, southern Israel, before flying to Tel Aviv. GPO/Handout via REUTERS
Alexander embraced his father, brother and sister as an Israeli Air Force helicopter took the family to a hospital where Alexander was to receive treatment.
FREED HAMAS HOSTAGE, AMERICAN EDAN ALEXANDER, REPPIN’ THE RED, WHITE & BLUE 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/inzhQOH3rI
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 12, 2025
Alexander, who is believed to be the last alive US citizen held by Hamas, was released as a goodwill gesture and as part of the effort to reach a new ceasefire ahead of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East visit, a senior Hamas official said, BBC reported.
Fighting had stopped midday upon the orders of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow for the hostage release. But Palestinian health officials said that soon after the hostage transfer completed, tank shelling and an air attack took place from the Israeli side since no ceasefire deal or a wider truce was agreed upon.
US President Trump, in a post on Truth Social stated “Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!”
The Alexander family thanked the US president in a statement and urged the Israeli government and negotiators involved to free the remaining 58 hostages.
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