the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Tenafly NJ, Hamas will release Edan Alexander, the last known surviving American-Israeli hostage held in Gaza, according to a senior official from the militant Palestinian group who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.
The release is expected to take place Tuesday, just days before former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in the Middle East for a high-profile visit. Alexander’s release is part of broader efforts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement and open access to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
International Mediation Paves the Way for Hostage Release
The potential release follows direct four-way talks involving officials from the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Khalil al-Hayya, an exiled Hamas leader in Gaza, confirmed that efforts to facilitate the release were made with the help of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
“The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed-upon manner,” Hayya said.
Who Is Edan Alexander?
Edan Alexander, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Israel, grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and graduated from Tenafly High School in 2022. He later joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and was abducted by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel that left 1,200 people dead and over 250 taken hostage.
Hamas previously released 38 hostages as part of a temporary truce in January 2024, but the ceasefire broke down in March when Israel resumed its military offensive following Hamas’s rejection of proposals to extend the truce.
Hamas-Israel Conflict and Ceasefire Conditions
The release of Alexander is seen as a goodwill gesture as part of ongoing negotiations, possibly influenced by the anticipated visit from Trump. While Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, officials have stated that these will not stop until all 59 remaining hostages are released and Gaza is demilitarized.
Hamas has insisted it will only free hostages if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire and withdraws completely from Gaza.
U.S. Reaction and Diplomatic Momentum
U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler welcomed the development, calling it “a positive step forward,” and urged Hamas to also return the bodies of four deceased American citizens. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that Hamas bears full responsibility for the conflict and its continuation.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Alexander’s release might be timed as a symbolic gesture ahead of Trump’s visit.
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