Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old dual US-Israeli citizen, has been reunited with his family in Israel after spending 19 months in captivity in Gaza. Captured by Hamas militants during the 7 October 2023 attack, Alexander had been serving in an elite Israeli infantry unit stationed along the Gaza border.

His release on Monday marked a rare moment of relief in the ongoing conflict. Israel temporarily halted its military operations in Gaza to allow for his safe transfer. According to a senior Hamas official speaking to the BBC, the release was intended as a goodwill gesture tied to efforts for a new ceasefire agreement ahead of US President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the Middle East on Tuesday.

Alexander is believed to have been the last surviving American held by Hamas. His family expressed immense gratitude for his return, thanking President Trump for his involvement and urging the Israeli government to continue negotiations for the release of the remaining 58 hostages.

Television footage showed a smiling Alexander embracing his parents and siblings at an Israeli military base. His mother, Yael, was seen speaking to him over the phone in a video shared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "You are strong. You are protected. You are home," she told her son.

Prime Minister Netanyahu called the moment "deeply moving" and credited the release to ongoing military pressure on Hamas and political support from President Trump. He reaffirmed that despite the release, Israel would continue its military campaign in Gaza and has no plans for a ceasefire.

Alexander was handed over by masked Hamas fighters to Red Cross workers in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis before being transferred to Israeli forces. The Israeli military said it secured a "safe corridor" to ensure his release could proceed without incident.

His release is the first since Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on 18 March, following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. Hamas, for its part, said the gesture was intended to support humanitarian negotiations, particularly concerning the entry of aid into Gaza.

However, the broader humanitarian situation remains dire. Israel has blocked the entry of food, medical supplies, and other aid for over 70 days. Aid agencies have warned that this policy could constitute a war crime, as conditions in Gaza deteriorate under continued aerial bombardment and ground operations.

Despite international pressure, Hamas has maintained that it will only agree to a ceasefire that ends the war — a demand repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu. Israel, meanwhile, has signaled plans to expand its military presence in Gaza, including taking over aid distribution through private firms — a move humanitarian groups have condemned as an attempt to "weaponize" aid.

President Trump’s upcoming visit may prove pivotal. Israel has stated that if no agreement is reached by the end of his visit, it will escalate its military operations. Israeli officials have also confirmed plans to send representatives to Qatar on Tuesday to continue talks on further hostage releases.

Qatar and Egypt, who have acted as mediators in previous negotiations, described Alexander’s release as a hopeful sign for renewed truce efforts.

Born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, Edan Alexander was among 251 people taken hostage during the October 7 attack, which left around 1,200 dead. Of those hostages, 58 are still believed to be held in Gaza — with only 23 thought to be alive. Five were American citizens; Alexander is believed to have been the last one still living.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 52,829 people, including 2,720 since military operations resumed in March.