Edan Alexander is a 21-year-old American-Israeli soldier released from Hamas captivity after 584 long days. Captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Alexander’s release was a significant event in the ongoing conflict and hostage negotiations.
How Was He Set Free?
With the United States leading the negotiation effort, a triangular negotiation was made among Israel, Hercules, and others acting as intermediaries: Qatar and Egypt. Following his handover by Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2025, there was no media coverage of the incident, which shows how delicate the whole matter truly is.
President Donald Trump spoke of the release as a “good faith step” by Hamas designed to promote ongoing ceasefire and humanitarian talks. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, confirmed this situation but reiterated that military operations would continue. The release has been attributed to a combination of international diplomacy and increased pressure upon Hamas.
The Conditions of His Detention
The detention period was something that was brutal. Reportedly, recent survivors recounted that Alexander was imprisoned under nails somewhere in underground tunnels with bad air, very few natural sources of light, torture and starvation being their everyday life. As a soldier, he was reported to be tortured even more, with handcuffs for prolonged periods and intense questioning.
But through it all, Alexander showed tremendous resilience. It was noted amongst those captive with him that he kept asking about his fellow hostages’ welfare and displayed remarkable strength of mind to cope with the hardships. Hope and solidarity are perhaps the greatest comforts he was able to provide those around him.
An Emotional Family Reunion
The release of Alexander turned into a dramatic reunion with his family at Reim Military Base, Israel. They embraced him, while his mother, Yael, his father, Adi, and his sibling gave way to tears to commemorate an end to a long ordeal. Their trip from Tenafly, New Jersey, to Israel, in search of hope, was about bringing Edan home.
This was a second trip by Yael Alexander to Israel. She had celebrated Edan’s 20th birthday in the month of December of the year 2023 and organized a public event aimed at raising awareness about Edan’s captivity. In her actions, she wanted to keep Edan’s interests before the public worldwide.
Alexander’s release would have a deeper meaning in light of the developments of the ongoing conflict and hostage negotiations to some extent. While it gives a breath of hope, there are still 58 other hostages unaccounted for, one of which is the bodies of four American citizens. The international community continues to urge their immediate release, together with working to resolve the actual issues that underlie the conflict.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is wretched and worsened as famine is declared by the UN and the blockade by Israel is preventing any food and aid from reaching Gaza. The release of Alexander has the possibility to reinvigorate some diplomatic efforts to tackle the humanitarian issues, as well as the deeper geopolitical concerns facing the region.
The release signifies the endurance of the human spirit and the power of international diplomacy. While his return brings relief to his family and the world at large, it underlines the stark reality of determining what continues to happen in the region. The global community must also work toward securing the release of all hostages and creating a solution to the root causes of the conflict.
