Conflict in the Middle East: Hamas leaves US Israeli hostage free

Islamist Hamas has released a US Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip. 21-year-old Edan Alexander was first handed over to representatives of the Red Cross in the city of Chan Junis in the south of the area. He is now back in Israel. The soldier was released with the USA due to an agreement by Hamas, without Israeli participation.

According to Israeli media, it is in good condition according to the circumstances. He is doing well, the news page “Ynet” quoted his grandmother Varda Ben Baruch. Israeli media published a first photo of his release. He can be seen in addition to hooded and armed Hamas members and a woman from the Red Cross. The picture shows how it is without help. According to “Ynet”, his grandparents reported that the young man needed help while walking.

The Islamists left Alexander without a ceremony. They had often staged degrading spectacles in previous hostage clearance and when the corpses were handed over. The hostages were shown on a stage in front of onlookers. A kidnapped person had to kiss two hooded Hamas men on their foreheads in February. The Islamists obviously did not want to annoy the United States with such a ceremony.

Cheers in Tel Aviv and the USA

In the coastal metropolis Tel Aviv, hundreds of people persecuted Alexander’s release. In the center of the city broke out great jubilation, the first reports of his handover to representatives of the Red Cross were the first reports. According to the media, too, hundreds of the 21-year-old celebrated in his American home town of Tenafly.

Alexander’s father Adi told the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that the family had not slept last night. His son looks a little pale and thin, but stand upright. After his release, the family wanted to fight for the remaining hostages to return home.

According to Alexander’s release, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “very emotional moment”. Israel hugged him and his family, Netanyahu said in a speech. The release of the soldier was reached by military pressure in the Gaza Strip and political pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Release as a gesture compared to the United States

The Islamist Hamas announced the release of the soldier on Sunday. The release is part of the efforts of the Islamists to achieve a Gaza agreement, it said.

Trump spoke of a “monumental news” and gesture of accommodation towards the USA and the other two intermediaries Qatar and Egypt. The US President broke up for a Middle East trip lasting several days on Monday. But he doesn’t come to Israel.

Netanyahu’s office announced that the United States had said Israel that the release would probably lead to negotiations on a earlier proposal by the US specialist Steve Witkoff that Israel had already accepted. Witkoff’s proposal provides for the release of all the kidnapped and corpses remaining in the Gaza Strip in two stages, with a longer ceasefire in between. However, Hamas insists on an obligation of Israel to a complete end of the war.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office also announced that it will send negotiators to Qatar on Tuesday.

Geisel could travel to Trump to Qatar

Terrorists had kidnapped Edan Alexander on October 7, 2023 on an Israeli guard position near the Gaza Strip. He is the first male soldier to have been released alive from the Hamas.

During the week, Alexander could travel to Katar for a meeting with Trump. Several Israeli media reported this, citing Alexander’s family. However, this only applies if his state of health allows this.

Israel: Negotiations with Hamas are continued under fire

Even after the young man was released, Israel plans to tighten the attacks in the Gaza Strip. “The negotiations will continue under fire, while preparations for intensifying the fights are ongoing,” said Netanyahus. Alexander’s release became possible “by the energetic policy that we led to President Trump, and thanks to the military pressure of the Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip”. Israel is not obliged to do any ceasefire or to dismiss in prisoners.

Relatives of other hostages without foreign citizenship expressed their angery that their loved ones were not released and accused the government of Netanyahus indifference. Schimon Or, whose nephew is recorded in the Gaza Strip, said “Ynet”: “Hamas noticed that US President Donald Trump has had enough of Netanyahu’s decision-making, so they thrown a bone to him and left Israel.”

The association of hostage families emphasized that nobody should be left behind in the Gaza Strip. “Edans return must be the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that brings all hostages home.”

Young soldier is said to have been tortured

Alexander had also been tortured in the hostage, Israeli media reported, citing reports previously released. Accordingly, he was held in a tunnel for more than 500 days and also chained for a while. The young soldier is said to have lost significant weight. In November 2024, the Islamist Hamas published a video of the young soldier that shows him uninhibitedly crying.

Alexander’s parents emigrated to the USA shortly after his birth. Her eldest son later came to Israel alone to serve in the army.

Another 58 kidnapped in the Gaza Strip

According to Israeli information, 20 living hostages are now being recorded, and the status is unclear in three other deported. There are also the corpses of 35 kidnapped. According to media reports, Alexander was the last living hostage with US citizenship, which was still captured in the Gaza Strip. Among the dead are still several people with American citizenship.

The Hamas and other Islamist terrorists killed around 1,200 people on October 7, 2023 and dragged more than 250 into the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. The massacre was triggered by the Gaza War. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 52,800 Palestinians have so far been killed.