Geisel combines with the family after being freed from Hamas

The Israeli-American hostage of Edan Alexander was reunited with his family in Israel after being captured by Hamas in Gaza for 19 months.

The 21-year-old Had served in the Israeli army on the border of the Gaza Strip when he was captured by the Hamas militants on October 7, 2023.

On Monday, Israel kept in the break for a few hours in Gaza in the break to facilitate the transfer. A high -ranking civil servant of the Hamas announced that the BBC was intended that the press release as goodwill gestures and as part of the efforts to achieve a new ceasefire deal was intended Before the US President Donald Trump’s US visit to the Middle East on Tuesday.

Mr. Alexander is considered the last US citizen who was held by Hamas, who was still alive.

president Trump offered his family “congratulations” for his release.

TV pictures show that Edan Alexander smiles when he hugs his parents and siblings on an Israeli military base.

In a statement, his family thanked the US President, but also asked the Israeli government and the negotiators to continue to free the 58 remaining hostages.

Mr. Alexander is the first hostage to be freed by Hamas since Israel restarted his military offensive on March 18 after a two -month ceasefire ended.

On Monday he was seen with masked Hamas fighter when she handed him over to the workers of the Red Cross in the southern city of Gaza by Khan Younis.

He was then taken to the Israeli authorities in Gaza before being reunited with his family in southern Israel. The Israeli military said that it offered a “safe corridor” for the release of Mr. Alexander.

A video that was shared about the X account by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed that Yael Alexander spoke to her son by phone.

“They are strong. They are protected. They are at home,” she said in the video.

Netanyahu called Mr. Alexander’s return a “very moving moment” – and thanked Trump for his support.

The release was made possible due to the military pressure on Hamas and “the political pressure exercised by President Trump”, said Netanyahu.

He added that Israel intended to continue with plans to intensify his military promotions in Gaza and that there would be no ceasefire.

Hamas had previously said that the release of Mr. Alexander should facilitate a deal for the entry into the enclave.

Israel has blocked the entry of all foods, medication and other humanitarian deliveries in Gaza Strip for 70 days. The aid agencies say that they could make up a policy of hunger and be a war crime, and in turn renewed its air bombing and other military operations there in mid -March.

Hamas previously said that it would only agree with a deal that includes the end of the war. This was repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu.

Trump is said to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday, and Israel has sworn to expand his military offensive against Hamas if no deal is achieved at the end of his visit.

Israeli officials said that the plans for their extended offensive are the interventions of the entire Gaza strip for an indefinite period, the reinforcement of the Palestinians in the south violently and the takeover of aids with private companies, although they will not cooperate because they are collected because they are raised “weapons” sub -divisors.

Israel should send representatives to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a proposal for further hostage publications.

Qatar and Egypt said that the release of Mr. Alexander was an encouraging sign of potential new ceasefire talks.

Mr. Alexander was born in Tel Aviv, but grew up in New Jersey and served in an elite infantry unit on the border between Gaza Strip when he was captured by the militants of Hamas during the attack on October 7, 2003.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken. Around 58 hostages that are believed to be alive.

The US citizenship should have five of the prisoners held in Gaza. Mr. Alexander is considered the last American who is still alive.

According to the Ministry of Health, which has been killed since March, 2,720 Palestinians killed, the military campaign of Israel killed 52,829 people in Gaza.