Hamas announces release of last U.S. hostage in Gaza

Israeli army soldiers are working on repairing an IDF tank in a staging area located in southern Israel near the southern Gaza Strip border in April. The fighting has intensified in Israel to free Israeli hostages who have been held since October 7, 2023. A file photo by Jim Hollander/UPI shows the scene.

Hamas announced on Sunday that they will release the man believed to be the last living U.S. citizen held hostage in Gaza. Evan Alexander, 21, a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, has been at the center of recent negotiations and confusion regarding his whereabouts and eventual release by Hamas. The group had lost contact with the captors holding Alexander captive.

Hamas had initially agreed to release Alexander and the bodies of four other hostages in March but changed their decision, citing a loss of contact with his captors and blaming Israeli airstrikes for targeting the area where Alexander was supposedly held. Following Hamas’ announcement on Sunday, special U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff stated that he would travel to Israel to secure Alexander’s release.

Witkoff mentioned, “We are picking him up probably tomorrow. There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank. The family is ecstatic.” The Hostage Family Forum confirmed that they had been informed about Alexander’s potential release and are in ongoing contact with the U.S. administration regarding the matter.

Alexander’s release is part of a series of steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open crossings, and allow aid, according to Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of the Hamas negotiating team. Details about Alexander’s physical condition were not provided. Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was captured and taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during the latest eruption of violence in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.