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3. Edan Alexander's Release: A Diplomatic Turning Point Between Washington and Hamas

Edan Alexander, 21, is the only American national still held alive in Gaza. After moving from New Jersey to Israel in 2022, he joined an elite unit of the Israeli army and was taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack.

In a statement released on Sunday, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said: “The al-Qassam Brigades have decided to release the Zionist soldier of American nationality on Monday, May 12, 2025.” The group also posted the message in Arabic on Telegram but gave no further details on the conditions or timing of the release.

In a first such development, the release comes as part of direct negotiations between Hamas and the United States — talks confirmed by multiple sources and hailed as a major breakthrough.

Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, who led the discussions, told NBC News he was heading to Israel to “bring Edan home, probably tomorrow (Monday).” He also informed the hostage’s parents of the upcoming release.

Witkoff is currently in Oman, where he held talks with Iranian officials on Sunday.

According to two sources familiar with the discussions, as reported by Axios, the US envoy has spent the past several days negotiating with Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas — not only toward a potential agreement on Gaza, but also as part of “broader regional peace talks.”

A Strategic Move Ahead of Trump’s Visit

Hamas's decision comes on the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, scheduled from Tuesday to Friday, with stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — the latter being a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to several diplomatic sources, the release is seen as a political gesture by Hamas toward the US president, hoping to revive a ceasefire process in Gaza.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Hamas noted that the release is part of a broader push for a comprehensive agreement. “The release of Edan Alexander is one of the steps being taken to establish a ceasefire, reopen border crossings, and allow the entry of humanitarian aid,” said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader.

The Palestinian movement has expressed its readiness to “immediately begin intensive negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement on ending the war, the exchange of prisoners, the governance of Gaza by an independent body, as well as reconstruction and the lifting of the blockade.”

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has praised the announcement of Alexander’s release. “This is a gesture of goodwill toward the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to end this particularly brutal war and ensure the return of ALL living hostages and the remains of those deceased to their families,” he wrote on the Truth Social platform. The US president also highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating on Monday: “The people of Gaza are starving, and we will help them get food.”

Sources cited by Axios have indicated that the White House will make significant efforts to secure a breakthrough in negotiations for a new agreement on Gaza before Trump’s visit comes to an end.

Israel, meanwhile, has set the end of the presidential trip as a deadline for a new agreement on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. Failing that, the Israeli government threatens to launch a large-scale operation aimed at demolishing and occupying the enclave, as well as relocating its entire population.

Was Israel Briefed After the Fact?

“The United States informed Israel of Hamas’s intention to release the Israeli-American hostage as a gesture toward the US, without any conditions or concessions," the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.

Unlike previous agreements mediated by third parties, Israel was not directly involved in this arrangement, learning about it through its intelligence services, according to anonymous sources cited by Axios. Nevertheless, the Israeli government agreed to open a secure corridor for Alexander's release, while rejecting any ceasefire or the release of Palestinian prisoners.

"Israel has not committed to any ceasefire or the release of terrorists, but only to a secure corridor allowing the release of Edan," Netanyahu said on Monday. He also stated that the operation had been made possible thanks to "the strong approach we pursued with the support of President Trump."

The United States reportedly informed Israel that this initiative should pave the way for negotiations for the release of other hostages, according to the initial plan presented by Witkoff — a plan that has already been accepted by the Israeli government.

Symbolic Release, Ongoing Stakes

Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 2023, 58 are still being held in Gaza, with 34 presumed dead by the Israeli military. Four of the deceased hostages were also American citizens.
Since the collapse of the last ceasefire in March, Israel has intensified its attacks in the Gaza Strip, where the Ministry of Health reports over 52,800 deaths, mostly civilians. The territory remains under blockade, and humanitarian aid deliveries are nearly nonexistent.

Protests are growing across Israel, demanding an end to the war and the release of all hostages. However, Netanyahu remains firm. "Saving the hostages is a priority, but we must destroy Hamas," he said on Sunday in a closed-door meeting with the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.