Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander

[Twiglets1]

CAIRO, May 11 (Reuters) - Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander will soon be released in Gaza, a senior Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday, a move key Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt described as an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks in the war-torn enclave.

The senior Hamas official did not specify a time for the release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli Army who was born and raised in New Jersey, but a source familiar with the matter told Reuters it would likely happen on Tuesday.

Freeing Alexander, believed to be the last surviving American hostage held by the militant Palestinian group, is part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, Hamas said.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East this week. His special envoy Adam Boehler said news of Alexander's release was a positive step forward.

"We would also ask that Hamas release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken," Boehler added.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-will-release-israeli-american-hostage-edan-alexander-group-says-2025-05-11/

.From the same article: Hamas had released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel's military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.

Israeli officials said that offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.
Israel, which is in control of around a third of Gaza's territory, said in May it will expand its Gaza offensive.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Hamas bore sole responsibility for the war as well as for the resumption of hostilities.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-will-release-israeli-american-hostage-edan-alexander-group-says-2025-05-11/

Also reported by the BBC: Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage as part of efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire

Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who is believed to be the last living captive with US nationality in Gaza, as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.

The decision comes ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East on Tuesday. Hamas said it was also intended to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian aid. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for 70 days.

Earlier a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the Palestinian armed group was holding direct negotiations with a US administration official in Qatar.

The Israeli PM's office said it had not committed to any ceasefire but only to a "safe corridor" for Mr Alexander's release.

Benjamin Netanyahu's office said preparations to intensify fighting were still continuing, and the release of Mr Alexander had been made possible because of military pressure on Hamas.

A senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations with the US in Qatar told the BBC that Hamas's announcement was intended as a goodwill gesture before Trump's arrival.

He said another meeting between Hamas and the mediators was scheduled for early Monday morning to finalise the process of Mr Alexander's release, which would require a temporary halt to Israeli military activity and a suspension of aerial operations during the handover.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2q7749dxlo

Qatar who have bankrolled and supported Hamas have given this jumbo jet palace to Trump and we hear that Trump maybe be building a billion dollar hotel in Saudi and 'doing a deal' with Iran and the Houthis so no wonder many Israelis are crying foul and sell out all over social media. The idea that Trump was always Israel's friend like all past US President's was a stretch and now we see that the orange one has his price. I suspect this hostage deal is all part of this. Extraordinary times - getting cucked by Netanhayu no longer strokes Trump's ego.

https://archive.ph/gDBFz

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Thank you for sharing, I'm very pleased to hear that atleast one hostage is being released. I hope this paves the way for all the others and an end to the war.

Very much hope it is a step closer to the end of the war @Whatsinanamehey

Everyone has a price! Including Trump it would appear. The potential investment of 3 trillion+ vs getting dragged into (and paying trillions for) another endless war in the Middle East due to your so called ally continually in conflict for 70+ years with their neighbours using America's name as a threat.

In all seriousness though, historically America has always stopped Israel quickly when they go too far (e.g. the Sabra massacre in the 1980s) in order to ensure that public perception does not fall too low. America failed to do that this time and the world has watched live in 4K crimes against humanity being committed. Through it's unwavering support of Israel, America has lost a lot of soft power and influence especially in the Global South.

I am mindful of Henry Kissingers famous quote: "It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal." meaning that America will always act in their own interests regardless of "friendship" see the assassination of Diem in South Vietnam.

It seems Israel was sidelined from the negotiations that has led to Edan Alexander's release. Trump personally thanked Egypt and Qatar for their help, no mention of Israel.

According to the BBC, the hostage Edan Alexander has been handed over to the Red Cross

The Israeli opposition said they found out about his release the same time the public did from the media

BBC: What we expect to happen with the handover

With Hamas reporting the handover of hostage Edan Alexander to the Red Cross - here's a quick look at how the Israeli side say today's release will unfold:

• It will follow the same procedure as previous hostage returns: Alexander will be handed from Hamas, to the Red Cross, to a special Israeli military unit
• Alexander will be transferred by a special unit to Re'im military base in Israel, where he will receive initial medical and psychological care, before reuniting with his family
• Alexander and his family will then be airlifted together to hospital in Tel Aviv
• We are not expecting a public handover, as happened with some hostage handovers in Gaza. Israel says it will only release footage with the Alexander family's consent.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c30qlp9qyq1t

Israel was as they were also left out of the Houthi ceasefire talks/deal, Steve Witkoff Trump’s envoy to the middle east diplomatically told the hostage families it was due to Netanyahu not wanting to end the war.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-said-to-tell-hostage-families-israel-pointlessly-extending-war-us-urging-deal/

@Twiglets1 there are images of him with Hamas members and the red Cross on the times of Israel page. He seems generally well, as in walking by himself unaided.

He's also now considering lifting sanctions from Syria to give them a fresh start. He's like the wind, changing at any moment 🤣

Gemini Sun things, the twins ♊️. I may have looked at what astrology social media is saying about his birth chart lol and lets not go into his Leo rising and Sagittarius Moon. (Anything to make sense of this mess).

It's great news that Edan has been released. I'm interested to know what happens immediately after. Will the war resume? Will the expansion of military activities in Gaza that Netanyahu has vowed still go ahead?

Will aid be allowed in now? Or will Israel continue to starve the Palestinians?

Perhaps the wrong thread for it and I don't want to derail but genuinely want to know if anyone has any information.

Report: Edan Alexander suffered severe torture in captivity, was kept handcuffed in a cage

Released hostage Edan Alexander suffered severe torture and was held handcuffed in a cage for an extended period of time, according to his initial testimony, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

Alexander, who was abducted on October 7, 2023, was reportedly interrogated for weeks and held in a Hamas tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip alongside other hostages.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-edan-alexander-suffered-severe-torture-in-captivity-was-kept-handcuffed-in-a-cage/

As you have noted, Israel were side-lined from the negotiations so they haven't actually agreed to do anything in exchange for this hostage.

I hope they do allow aid in. But in a way, you could say nothing has changed apart from Hamas gifting Trump an American hostage. The situation still seems fraught with danger for the civilians of Gaza and for the other, non- American hostages.

It is great news that he's been released especially for his family who advocated relentlessly with the American government after all but being a last thought for Netanyahu.

I'm tired of seeing these kids fighting wars started by politicians all over the world. Politicians should be sent in first! Maybe they'll think twice.

I know that a couple of trucks of medical aid entered Northern Gaza earlier today. The ceasefire will already be over and I imagine that the area will be bombed severely tonight in order to display some sort of dominance. Pray for the civilians.

Edan and his family are reportedly due to fly to Doha to meet Trump soon:
https://x.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1921906079614611767

Let's hope that the GCC countries can move the needle on a permanent ceasefire.

Thank you. I haven't been able to see the images myself but it's good to know he doesn't seem to be in too bad a condition, physically at least.

@BelleHathor I really hope so too.

Awful for Edan. He will never fully recover from his experiences. My heart goes out to the hostages. They have experienced both the bombardment of Gaza and the hate from their captors and they are completely innocent. I can’t even imagine the worry of the families of the remaining hostages after reading about how he was treated.

I don’t have any faith that the US leaving Israel out of talks will change the outcome of the conflict. The Trump administration will act in its own self interest. They aren’t going to care what happens to the Palestinian people. Human rights isn’t in their vocabulary. They are no doubt getting pissed off that Israel aren’t controllable but are still involved in this terrible aid plan, and they are becoming so isolationist that they won’t be so worried about the optics of the situation.

Interestingly US official Witkoff said on Sunday that Israel have not wanted the release of the hostages as an excuse to prolong the war which is what everyone has suspected all along. This has always been an excuse for genocide and a land grab. This has been documented in several outlets including Israeli ones .