Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier and the last known living U.S. citizen held hostage in Gaza, was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Hamas on Monday. The handover took place in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and Alexander is now en route to Israeli territory. The release, the first since the collapse of a ceasefire in March, has sparked hope for renewed negotiations to free the remaining 58 hostages still held in Gaza. Hamas announced late Sunday that it had agreed to release Alexander following direct talks with the U.S. administration, facilitated by mediators Qatar and Egypt. The handover occurred without a public ceremony, a departure from previous Hamas-orchestrated releases, and was described as taking place under “secretive circumstances” by Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum. Red Cross vehicles collected Alexander in Khan Younis and transported him to Israeli forces via the Kissufim crossing. The IDF reported that Alexander is being transferred to a special military unit and will be taken to a facility at the Re’im military base for initial medical and psychological evaluations before reuniting with his family. He is expected to be airlifted to Sourasky (Ichilov) Hospital in Tel Aviv for further care. Hamas’s military spokesman, Abu Obaida, said that the release was a “goodwill gesture” aimed at facilitating a ceasefire, resuming humanitarian aid to Gaza, and opening negotiations for a prisoner exchange. The terror group emphasized its readiness to engage in “intensive negotiations” to end the war, exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and establish an independent administration in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office clarified that Israel has not committed to a ceasefire or prisoner releases, only agreeing to a “safe corridor” for Alexander’s transfer. The IDF is prepared to resume fighting in Gaza once Alexander is in Israeli territory, an official told The Jerusalem Post. Edan Alexander, born in Tel Aviv and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, was serving in an elite IDF infantry unit near the Gaza border when he was abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The assault killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 individuals taken hostage, igniting the ongoing war. Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was last seen in a Hamas propaganda video in April 2025, where he appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump for help. His parents, Yael and Adi Alexander, have been vocal advocates for his release, meeting with U.S. officials, including President Trump, to push for a deal. Hamas’s decision to release Alexander comes ahead of Trump’s Middle East tour, starting Tuesday, with planned stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, but notably excluding Israel. The release has been framed as a gesture toward the Trump administration, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff playing a key role in negotiations. Witkoff, who traveled to Israel with Alexander’s mother on Sunday, described the release as a “positive step forward” and vowed to continue efforts to free all hostages. Trump hailed the development as “monumental news” on Truth Social, expressing hope that it could lead to the release of all remaining hostages and an end to the conflict. In Israel, the reaction is mixed. Crowds gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square to celebrate Alexander’s release, waving flags and holding signs. However, some expressed frustration that Prime […]