The final living American hostage held by Hamas, Edan Alexander, is expected to be released on Monday after more than a year in captivity.
According to the terrorist group, the 21-year-old dual Israeli-American citizen will be released as part of negotiations for a ceasefire.
“The movement has shown a high level of positivity, and the Israeli soldier with dual American citizenship, [Edan] Alexander, will be released as part of the steps being taken toward a ceasefire, the opening of border crossings, and the entry of aid and relief for our people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement per The Daily Wire.
Edan was born in Rockville, Maryland, before moving to New Jersey. He joined the Israeli Defense Forces after high school and was taken captive during Hamas’ October 7 massacre while at a small outpost by Kibbutz Nir Oz. He has been seen in Hamas propaganda videos.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, added that Alexander’s release “affirms its readiness to immediately begin intensive negotiations” to bring the war to the end.
Hamas said that it hopes any final agreement influences a “mutually agreed-upon captive exchange, and ensures that the Gaza Strip is managed by an independent professional body.”
“This would guarantee long-term calm and stability, as well as reconstruction and the lifting of the blockade.”
Trump on Sunday confirmed that Alexander “is coming home to his family,” after being held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
The White House hostage envoy has also requested that Hamas also release the bodies of the four other American citizens it still holds.
A senior Hamas official told the Associated Press that the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization was advised to “give a gift to President Trump and in return he will give back a better one.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Americans informed Israel of Hamas’s intention to release Alexander “as a gesture to the Americans, without conditions or anything in exchange.”
“The U.S. has conveyed to Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages according to the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted,” the Israeli prime minister’s office continued in a statement, referring to the proposal from Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has played a key role in hostage negotiations.
The move comes as President Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16, the second foreign trip of his second term.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the United States had rescued all the hostages kept by the socialist Venezuelan Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas. (RELATED: Sec. Of State Announces Rescue Of 5 Hostages Held In Venezuela)
Those five hostages were members of the opposition to Nicholas Maduro’s brutal regime.
“The government of Argentine President Javier Milei allowed the five people into the ambassador’s residence in March 2024, when authorities loyal to Venezuela‘s ruling party issued warrants for their arrest, accusing them of promoting acts of violence to destabilize the country,” The Washington Post reported, adding, “Since late November, the group had denounced the constant presence of intelligence service agents and police outside the residence.”
“The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas,” Rubio wrote on X. “Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela’s institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security. We extend our gratitude to all personnel involved in this operation and to our partners who assisted in securing the safe liberation of these Venezuelan heroes.”
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