Hamas to release American-Israeli hostage after 525 days captive

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Hamas agreed to release an American-Israeli after 525 days in captivity. Qatar-mediated negotiations secured the hostage release negotiations.
The deal includes releasing four deceased hostages’ bodies, with transfer details still unclear.
The release may boost Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, which stalled on March 1, as negotiations continue for a broader agreement.

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Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli soldier, marking the first confirmation of his freedom after 525 days in captivity.

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Hamas captured Alexander, a member of the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade, on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel.

Signs and a photograph of Edan Alexander, the American-Israeli and Israel Defense Forces soldier taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, stand outside a Jewish community center in Alexander’s home town of Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S., December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Stephani Spindel — Reuters

Raised in New Jersey, Alexander moved to Israel after high school to enlist in the military.

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What does the deal include?

Hamas’ agreement includes the release of four bodies of hostages who died in captivity, though their identities have not been disclosed.

The timing of the transfer remains unclear. Qatar and Egypt have mediated indirect talks between Hamas and Israel as negotiations continue for a broader ceasefire agreement.

How has his family responded?

Alexander’s mother, Yael, repeatedly spoke out about her son’s captivity, describing the emotional toll of waiting for his release.

In November 2024, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking under duress, referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then President-elect Donald Trump. His family called the video disturbing but took it as a sign he was still alive.

How does this impact ceasefire talks?

The deal comes as discussions in Qatar aim to establish the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which initially paused fighting for hostage exchanges but ended on March 1.

Hamas insisted on broader negotiations, including the release of more Palestinian prisoners and a long-term truce. Israel, however, pushed for the return of all hostages before discussing a ceasefire extension.

What happens next?

U.S. officials backed efforts to secure the release of American hostages, with Trump publicly pressuring Hamas to release all captives.

The Biden administration had been involved in diplomatic talks regarding hostage releases before Trump took office. Israel continues to demand the release of remaining hostages, while families of those still in captivity urge world leaders to take stronger action.

Tags: Egypt, Hamas, hostage, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Palestine, Qatar, Tel Aviv

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

HAMAS AGREES TO RELEASE EDAN ALEXANDER, THE LAST KNOWN LIVING AMERICAN HOSTAGE HELD IN GAZA. ALEXANDER, A 21-YEAR-OLD ISRAELI-AMERICAN SOLDIER, SPENT 525 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY.

ALONG WITH HIS RELEASE, HAMAS WILL HAND OVER THE BODIES OF FOUR DUAL-NATIONAL HOSTAGES WHO DIED IN CAPTIVITY.

THE TIMELINE FOR THE TRANSFER REMAINS UNCLEAR AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE IN QATAR OVER THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE. THE FIRST PHASE ENDED ON MARCH 1, AND ISRAEL IS PRESSING HAMAS FOR THE RELEASE OF HALF OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE FIRST PHASE AND A PROMISE TO REACH A TRUCE, WHILE HAMAS SEEKS A BROADER AGREEMENT ON THE SECOND PHASE THAT INCLUDES RELEASING ALL REMAINING HOSTAGES, WITHDRAWING ISRAELI FORCES, AND ESTABLISHING LASTING PEACE .

ALEXANDER SERVED IN THE ISRAELI MILITARY WHEN HAMAS LAUNCHED ITS OCTOBER 7 ATTACK, KILLING 1,200 ISRAELIS AND CAPTURING 251 HOSTAGES. HIS MOTHER, YAEL ALEXANDER, LAST SPOKE WITH HIM THAT DAY.

YAEL ALEXANDER

MOTHER

“But I’m doing whatever I can to make everyone happy, and still to have this fight on our son Edan. Because he needs to come back home. Everyone in Jersey is waiting for him and I cannot wait to this day, like, that they’re going to tell me, okay Yael, you need to come to Israel, to get Edan back.”

MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, HAMAS RELEASED A VIDEO SHOWING ALEXANDER ALIVE IN WHAT OFFICIALS DESCRIBED AS A FORCED PROPAGANDA RECORDING.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING FOR THE RELEASE OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES, WITH OFFICIALS CALLING ALEXANDER’S CASE A TOP PRIORITY. HAMAS PREVIOUSLY SIGNALED THAT ADDITIONAL RELEASES WOULD ONLY HAPPEN AS PART OF A SECOND-PHASE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT.

ALEXANDER’S FAMILY, ALONG WITH OTHER HOSTAGE FAMILIES, CONTINUE PRESSING FOR PROGRESS, WARNING THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HIS MOTHER SPENT MONTHS ADVOCATING IN ISRAEL AND THE U.S., URGING LEADERS TO SECURE HIS RELEASE.

THE U.S. IS REPORTEDLY OFFERING A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE CEASEFIRE IN EXCHANGE FOR RELEASING A SMALL GROUP OF LIVING HOSTAGES. AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, FAMILIES OF THOSE STILL HELD IN GAZA REMAIN IN A TENSE WAIT FOR ANSWERS.

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