Edan Alexander, hostage from the United States and Israel, launched after more than 19 months in Captivity de Hamas

Hamas launched Edan Alexanderthat it is believed that he is the last American citizen who was hostage in Gaza, on Monday when President Trump started from Washington For a trip To Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, authorities said. Alexander was transferred to the Red Cross and then to Israel’s defense forces.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israel government “will help in its absorption and accompany him and his family.” The Netanyahu office published a video of Alexander transferred to the hands of the IDF.

“The Israeli government is committed to the return of all the kidnapped and missing, both the living and the dead,” said Netanyahu’s office in a statement.

Mr. Trump rejoiced for the launch of Alexander. “Congratulations to their wonderful parents and friends!” He wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Hamas, a terrorist group designated by the United States and Israeli, said Sunday night he would Alexander releases Without conditions with the hope of working towards a durable fire in Gaza and renew the flow of vital humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory. On Monday, the International Red Cross Committee said in a statement, without identifying Alexander, who had successfully “facilitated the safe transfer of a gaza hostage to Israeli authorities.”

Alexander, who is now 21 years old, grew in New Jersey before moving to Israel, where he was serving in the Israeli army on October 7, 2023, when he was kidnapped during the Hamas Orchestrated attack that caused the aggression that caused War in Gaza.

In February, News themezone spoke with Alexander’s mother, Yael, who said he was doing everything possible to fight for his son’s liberation and move on for his other children.

“It is not easy, but you know what, I am taking the strength of my children to be well and wake up every morning and put my clothes … to smile for them, hug them, tell them how much I love them and give them a lot of hope that Edan is fine.”

The Missing hosages and families welcomed the news of Alexander’s launch and said they would organize a march at the United States embassy in Israel on Monday to demand “an innovative and integral agreement” to take the remaining hostages home.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed to News themezone that he would travel to the region before the launch of Alexander, and the local media said he had arrived before Monday.

Hamas said Sunday that the decision to free Alexander arrived after “contacts with the administration of the United States in recent days”, and that the group was ready to “start immediately intensive negotiations to exercise serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, establish an exchange of mutually agreed prisoners and make the Gaza Strip administered by an independent professional body.

In a publication about Truth Social, Trump called “a step in good faith to the United States and the efforts of the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to end this brutal war and return to all living hostages and remain to their loved ones. Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to put an end to this brutal conflict.”

Netanyahu’s office had said in a statement that “Israel did not commit to any fire or the release of terrorists, but only with a sure corridor that would allow the release of Idan.” The Israel government uses that spelling of Alexander’s first name.

“We are in critical days when Hamas faces an agreement that will allow the release of our hostages,” said Prime Minister’s office. “The negotiations will continue under fire and while preparations are being made to intensify the fight.”

Israel has been avoiding the entry of food and medical aid in Gaza for almost three months, and help groups say that malnutrition is increasing throughout the enclave. Food security experts said in a report published on Monday that the Population of Gaza faced a critical hambruna risk.

“The entire population faces high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people (one in five) who face hunger,” said the group’s food security phase classification in a report. “With the announced expansion of military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, the persistent inability of humanitarian agencies to access populations in terrible needs, an anticipated escalation in hostilities and the continuous mass displacement of people, the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is not only possible, it is increasingly probable.”

Also on Monday, Israeli strikes were reported in a school turned into a Shelter in the Jabaliya area in Gaza, killing 16 people, mainly women and children, according to the Ministry of Health led by Hamas there.

Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.

In:
• Hamas
• Israel
• Loop