Israeli American Edan Alexander has been freed from Gaza by Hamas, which could lead to new conversations about restoring a ceasefire in the area that has seen intense fighting.
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the operation that led to Alexander’s release happened through Israeli military pressure along with backing from U.S. President Donald Trump.
On the evening of May 12, groups of Israelis came out to the roadside, celebrating and waving as a convoy of eight vehicles transported Alexander to a military base in Reim, a town located in Israel’s south and close to the Gaza Strip.
Condition and Return from Captivity
Without identifying a source, Israel’s Channel 12 news reported that Alexander’s physical state was “low” when he was recovered.
Earlier that day, Al Jazeera shared an image that showed Alexander next to fighters wearing masks and a representative from the Red Cross. This time around, he was dressed in regular clothing, different from previous hostage releases.
Following his return, Alexander was expected to be taken to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for medical care, after spending 19 months as a hostage.
Response from the Israeli Government
While delivering the news of his release, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would not be stopping its military campaign. He mentioned that there would be no agreement to end the fighting at the moment, and that Israel would press on with its defense efforts.
According to Netanyahu, a pause in military activity was only allowed so that Alexander could be safely transported.
Netanyahu’s office also confirmed that the United States had informed them on May 11 about an agreement with Hamas to release Alexander. This agreement reportedly came after negotiations between Washington officials and Hamas, and did not involve Israel directly.
Pressure from Military and Diplomatic Channels
The Israeli prime minister pointed to Israel’s operations in Gaza as an important reason behind Alexander’s freedom. He also emphasized that the U.S. government’s political involvement, especially support from Donald Trump, played a role in the outcome.
Netanyahu said that he spoke with Trump on Monday, and Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel. This was confirmed in a public statement released by Netanyahu’s office.
