LONDON — American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, was released on Monday after successful negotiations between the U.S. and the terrorist organization.
The handover is not yet complete. Alexander is on his way with Red Cross officials to Israel Defense Forces members in Gaza, the IDF said.
People watch a live broadcast of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander as he is released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025.
Oded Balilty/AP
Alexander’s mother, Yael, has arrived at Re’im military base in Israel near the Gaza border to see her son before he’s taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv. Retired Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch, the Israeli coordinator for prisoners of war and missing persons, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are also heading to the military base, an Israeli official told ABC News.
Israeli security officials told ABC News there would be a temporary pause in combat, airstrikes and aerial reconnaissance in the area of Gaza where 21-year-old Alexander was to be released. The pause will last until Alexander crosses into Israeli territory, officials said, which is expected to take less than 30 minutes.
Supporters prepare for the release of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza, on May 12, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
Alexander, a New Jersey native, moved to Israel at the age of 18. He was serving in the IDF when captured from his base close to the Gaza frontier during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. He was 19 when abducted and has had two birthdays while in captivity.
Alexander was the last living American citizen still believed to be held hostage by Hamas. The terror group is believed to also be holding the bodies of four dead American hostages, according to U.S. officials.
Alexander’s supporters have gathered in Tel Aviv and in Tenafly, New Jersey, to celebrate his release.
People gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander to be released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025.
Oded Balilty/AP
Edan Alexander’s family cheering after receiving the news he has been freed as they sit at the house of his grandmother Varda Ben Baruch in Tel Aviv, Israel May 12, 2025.
Hostages Families Forum
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, per a readout from his office. Netanyahu also spoke with President Donald Trump, the statement said, with the Israeli leader thanking Trump for his assistance in securing Alexander’s release.
“The prime minister discussed the last-ditch effort to implement the outline for the release of the hostages presented by Witkoff, before the escalation of the fighting,” the statement said. “To this end, the prime minister instructed that a negotiating delegation be sent to Doha tomorrow.”
Israelis gather at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on May 12, 2025 in anticipation of the release of Israeli-US captive Edan Alexander.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
“The prime minister clarified that the negotiations will only take place under fire,” it added.
Trump, who’s hosted Alexander’s parents at the White House multiples times, said Monday before his release, “They thought he was dead just a short while ago. His parents are so happy.”
“He’s coming home to his parents, which is really great news,” Trump said.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Alexander’s release “is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.”
People gather to watch a live stream on a big screen reporting on the release of Israeli-American soldier hostage Edan Alexander, in hostages square outside the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 12, 2025.
Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Hamas announced its intention to free Alexander on Sunday, describing the decision as a “part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire.”
The statement said Hamas has been in contact with American officials “over the past few days” as part of ceasefire negotiations.
Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of hostage Edan Alexander grandmother, gestures at a portrait of Edan at Kibbutz Nir Oz, in southern Israel, on April 20, 2025.
Amir Cohen/Reuters
A U.S. official familiar with the deal to release Alexander told ABC News that the agreement came together in recent days via direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas.
Alexander’s release is being viewed as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration and a potential opening to jumpstart talks surrounding the broader conflict, U.S. officials told ABC News.
A woman cries as she gathers with others to watch a live broadcast of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander to be released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025.
Oded Balilty/AP
Still, officials said the U.S. did not secure all the concessions it was seeking. Negotiators had also been pushing Hamas for the release of the remains of the four dead American hostages still held in Gaza, officials said.
Alexander’s family said in a statement released through the Hostage Families Forum that it was informed of Hamas’ announcement and “is in continuous contact with the U.S. government regarding the possibility of Edan’s expected release in the coming days.”
They added that “it is forbidden to leave any hostage behind” and said that “Israel is committed to ensure the return of all 58 remaining hostages without delay.”
Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is greeted on the day Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, is expected to be released by Hamas, in Reim, Israel May 12, 2025.
Ammar Awad/Reuters
Alexander was one of the 253 hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people were also killed, according to Israel.
Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza had killed 52,829 people and wounded 119,554 more as of Sunday, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in the strip.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Emily Shapiro, Shannon Kingston and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.
