Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu awarded the release of the American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Monday, whose Palestinian militant movement Hamas has been detained in the Gaza Strip since October. He also highlighted “political pressure” by US President Donald Trump to take the release of the hostage, TASR reports according to the AFP report.
“This is a very emotional moment – Edan Alexander has returned home. We embrace him and embrace his family. We have achieved it thanks to our military pressure and political pressure exerted by President Trump. This is a winning combination,” Netanyahu said in the video -office video published by his office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said that the released hostage Edan Alexander had already crossed the border from Gaza to Israeli territory. “The returning hostage is currently on his way to the reception point in southern Israel, where he will meet his family,” the army said in a statement.
Hamas confirmed that his armed wing was released on Monday, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, detained in Gaza after the attack of militants on Israel in October 2023.
The role of the Red Cross
A source close to this militant movement said that Alexandra was handed over to the Red Cross in the city of Khan in the south of the Gaza Strip. His dismissal occurred the day after Hamas announced that he had entered direct negotiations with Washington about a ceasefire.
The released Alexander, who grew up in the US and served in the Israeli army, is in good condition due to the circumstances and is fine, according to DPA, the Israeli news server Ynet quoted his grandmother Varda Baruch.
Other hostages
Alexander is believed to be the last living hostage in Gaza with American citizenship, writes AFP. Netanyahu said on Monday that his release would take place without offering anything to offer anything as a consideration. According to Netanyahu, the Hamas movement in this Palestinian enclave is still 21 hostages who are still alive.
