The night in the Middle East: cheers and tears after the release of a Hamas hostage

When Edan Alexander was able to see his mother again after more than 580 days in captivity, he fell into her arms for a long time. His mother initially cried with joy, but eventually both of them were crying. After 19 months of Hamas hostage-taking in the Gaza Strip, the young soldier was free, back in Israel —and reunited with his family. Alexander was also able to hug his father and siblings again, and he kissed his brother and sister on the forehead. Footage of the reunion was released by the Israeli army and government late Monday evening.

Shortly before, the Islamists had released the American-Israeli dual citizen from their custody. The release is seen as a gesture toward the United States: Hamas hopes that US President Donald Trump will put pressure on the Israeli government to agree to an agreement that also includes a permanent end to the Gaza war. On Monday, Trump embarked on a multi-day Middle East trip. Today's stop in Saudi Arabia will be followed by visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – but none to Israel. It is the US president's first major foreign trip in his second term.

Edan Alexander has endured a difficult few months: The terrorists brutally tortured him during interrogations and locked him in a cage, Israeli broadcaster Kan quoted the 21-year-old's initial statements. He also had to wear handcuffs for extended periods. According to the report, the Israeli army soldier was held in a tunnel with other hostages and received little food. In November 2024, Hamas released a video of the soldier showing him crying uncontrollably.

After his release, Alexander was taken to a clinic for treatment, where he also met with other relatives. In the released images, he appears pale. According to broadcaster Kan, in an initial conversation with his mother, he said he needed to go to the beach to sunbathe. "I love you so much," his mother said in their first phone call before their reunion.

The family had traveled from the USA to receive the 21-year-old. Alexander's parents had emigrated to the United States shortly after his birth. Their eldest son later went to Israel alone to serve in the army. On October 7, 2023, he was abducted by a guard near the Gaza Strip into the sealed-off coastal territory. He is the first male soldier to be released alive from Hamas hostage captivity since then. The release was agreed upon between Hamas and the USA, without Israeli involvement.

To mark the release, Israel's military briefly paused its attacks in the Gaza Strip, but according to Israeli and Palestinian reports, they have since resumed. The Israeli government continues to plan to escalate attacks in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject an end to the war and wants to completely destroy Hamas .

However, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that it would send negotiators to Qatar on Tuesday for indirect negotiations with Hamas. The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, stalled several months ago. The main points of contention between the two warring parties remain unresolved.

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 quoted Prime Minister Netanyahu this evening as saying that an agreement to end the war could only be reached if Hamas were completely disarmed. The Palestinian terrorist organization has so far rejected this previously raised demand as a prerequisite for a permanent ceasefire. Now, it is hoping that US President Trump will influence Netanyahu.

After his release, Edan Alexander held up a sign reading "Thank you, President Trump!!!" to a camera during a helicopter ride to the hospital. He may travel to Qatar later this week for a meeting with Trump if he is well enough. Several Israeli media outlets reported this, citing Alexander's family.

According to Israeli sources, at least 20 living hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip following the young man's release, and the status of three other abductees is unclear. Furthermore, the remains of 35 abductees have not yet been returned.

Despite the joy over Edan Alexander's release, there was also criticism of Netanyahu's government, which has been accused of abandoning other hostages in the Gaza Strip. "It is difficult to ignore the harsh message delivered today to the citizens of the State of Israel and the entire world: Our lives are worth less," read a message from Kibbutz Nir Oz. "A hostage with an American passport is being given priority, while the 58 other hostages—including 14 members of the Nir Oz community—are being left behind, and concern for their fate is greater than ever."

Nir Oz was one of the scenes of the unprecedented massacre a good year and a half ago. Hamas and other Islamist terrorists killed around 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 others hostage in the Gaza Strip during their attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The massacre triggered the Gaza War. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed so far, including fighters as well as civilians.