Trump Secures Release of Last American Hostage Held by Hamas [WATCH]

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American citizen held hostage by Hamas since October 2023, has been released and is returning home to his family. The news came on Mother’s Day, marking the end of nearly 600 days of captivity.

MONUMENTAL NEWS: “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.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zTFBzD5rBN

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 11, 2025

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Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, stating, “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.” He thanked those involved in securing Alexander’s release and described the move by Hamas as “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.”

Trump added that he hoped this development would be “the first of those final steps necessary” to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

Alexander’s release followed a statement from Hamas on Sunday evening signaling a shift in their position. Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas negotiator, said the group was ready to engage in “intensive negotiations” aimed at reaching a final ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange.

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“The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations, and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to stop the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed manner, and manage the Gaza Strip by an independent professional body,” Al-Hayya said, according to CNN.

Edan Alexander was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey.

After high school, he joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to a report by Haaretz.

On October 7, 2023, the day Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, Alexander was stationed at a small military outpost near the Gaza border.

His mother, Yael Alexander, said she last spoke to her son early that morning.

During a video chat the previous evening, he had joked with her about holiday meals and security restrictions.

“He was cute and handsome, playing with his hair the whole time,” she recalled.

“He said that people had brought them a holiday meal at the base and that he was going to sleep because he had a guard shift early in the morning.”

She added, “I joked and said, ‘We’ll come with an armored vehicle tomorrow, for Shabbat we’ll bring you cholent.’ He laughed and said, ‘They won’t let you in, it’s dangerous.’ I went to bed, and at 6:30 in the morning, my father woke me up to go out to the stairwell, because there was a siren.”

Yael messaged her son and received a reassuring reply that he was in a safe place.

But after a second siren, Alexander stopped responding.

He called once more a few minutes later.

That would be the last time they spoke.

Following news of his release, the Alexander family issued a statement calling it “the greatest gift imaginable.”

“Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,” the family said, according to Northjersey.com.

“We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the US administration for their tireless work to make this happen.”

Statement from the family of Edan Alexander:

“Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza.

We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the US… pic.twitter.com/CNqlzy6HBE

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) May 11, 2025

Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser and assistant to President Trump, was credited alongside Trump for playing a key role in securing the release.

The Alexander family also urged Israeli negotiators not to let up, hoping Edan’s return would help initiate talks for the safe return of the remaining 58 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas.

“We hope this begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families,” the family stated.

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