Edan Alexander's family reacts to Hamas release; Trump thanks Qatar, omits Israel

President Donald Trump confirmed that Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released

Published on: May 12, 2025, 04:42:05 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump confirmed that Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of efforts for a ceasefire. In his message on Truth Social, the 78-year-old thanked Qatar and Egypt for mediating the American citizen's release. However, notably, he did not mention Israel.

Edan Alexander will be released by Hamas (AFP)

“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war,” President Trump wrote.

Trump's failure to mention Israel comes as reports claim his relationship with PM Benjamin Netanyahu is strained because of their disagreements on Gaza and Iran.

Meanwhile, Edan Alexander's family rejoiced to learn about his release. His father, Adi Alexander, told Ynet: “The entire family is now on the way to Israel. We were completely surprised to receive the call from [Steve] Witkoff. We knew about the negotiations but not about such a dramatic development.

“It’s very symbolic and moving to get this news exactly on Mother’s Day.”

Earlier in the day, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff told AP that Hamas has agreed to release Alexander, who is an Israeli-American soldier based out of New Jersey. He was abducted from his base during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza.

Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates this week in a regional tour. Earlier in the day, it was reported that the US president is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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