Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, is “coming home to his family” in a submission by the terror group that could potentially fuel a wider cease-fire deal, President Trump said Sunday night.
“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Edan Alexander was taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. Family Handout“I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen.”
The commander in chief’s statement came after it was reported earlier that Hamas said it was willing to release Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American citizen from New Jersey, as part of new “intensified efforts to achieve a ceasefire, open border crossings, and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas agreed to free Alexander after mediators assured them that the American’s release “would go a long way” to curry Trump’s favor and help end the war in Gaza, sources told The Times of Israel.
Two Hamas officials told the Associated Press they anticipate the release will happen in the next 48 hours.
Yael Alexander, mother, left, Roy Alexander, brother, center, and Adi Alexander, father, right, the family of Edan Alexander, a hostage held by Hamas. Stephen YangTrump, 78, also said on Truth Social that Alexander’s freedom could lead to the end of the bloody conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas that started after the terror group attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023.
“This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones,” he said.
“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!”
In addition to Alexander, the terror group is also in possession of the bodies of four other US citizens who were killed in the Gaza Strip.
Grab from a video released by Hamas’s armed wing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades on April 12, 2025, of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.
Alexander’s release has remained a top priority for American mediators, with the officials allegedly telling Hamas that his freedom could push the US to “put all issues on the table,” including allowing the terror group to remain in power in Gaza, the TOI reported.
The condition has remained a non-starter for Israel in the negotiations and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to keep the war going until all of Hamas is eliminated.
Netanyahu acknowledged the American deal with Hamas during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, saying Hamas was looking to make “a gesture” to Trump ahead of his visit to the region later this week.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to arrive in Israel tomorrow to facilitate the full details of Alexander’s release, according to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid.
Along with Alexander, 58 other hostages remain in Hamas captivity since the cease-fire deal broke down in March.
Israel believes that up to 24 of the hostages are still alive, though Netanyahu admitted last week that another three captives might be dead.
