Hamas released and handed over the Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who had been held in the Gaza Strip since the attacks of October 7, 2023. Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, announced the release.
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Alexander, 21 years old, was born in the state of New Jersey and was serving in the Israeli Army when he was captured by Hamas.
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How was the Israeli-American hostage released?
Unlike previous release agreements, which were achieved within the framework of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, this time the government of Benjamin Netanyahu had little involvement and Alexander’s release occurred thanks to pressure from the United States on the eve of a trip by Donald Trump to the Middle East.
Trump said that this is “great news”. “Edan Alexander, the American hostage who was presumed dead, will be released by Hamas,” he said in a brief message on his TruthSocial social media account.
According to NBC News, U.S. intervention has increased tensions between Israel and Washington, highlighting differences over the recent military actions of the Israeli army in Gaza and a possible agreement with Iran.
In a brief statement, the Israeli Army stated that Alexander was handed over to the Red Cross teams and will soon be reunited with military personnel who will transfer him to Israeli territory.
Could liberation hasten negotiations for a ceasefire?
Jalil al Haya, a senior official of Hamas’ political wing, had announced on Sunday that the group would release Alexander within the next 48 hours, before stating that the movement was thus demonstrating its willingness to immediately start “intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to stop the war and exchange prisoners in a consensual manner.”
However, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied the existence of any kind of ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in recent hours.
On Sunday, Trump himself described the announcement as “a step taken in good faith towards the United States” as well as towards Qatar and Egypt, whom he acknowledged for their “efforts” as mediating countries in trying to end “this brutal war and return all hostages alive and (...) mortal remains to their loved ones.”