Edan Alexander reunites with family in Israel after 19 months
Jerusalem, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) - Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander arrived in Israel after being released from Gaza, where he was held in Hamas captivity for 19 months, Israel's Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Alexander arrived at southern Israel's Re'im military base adjacent to the Gaza Strip to reunite with his family, who landed only a few hours earlier from the United States, Xinhua news agency reported.
A photo taken earlier in Gaza showed Alexander, wearing a black T-shirt and a baseball cap, being accompanied by armed Hamas militants and a woman from the Red Cross during a handover process.
Alexander was released following direct talks between Washington and Hamas.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the release, writing in a post on his Truth Social platform: "Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage, is being released. Congratulations to his wonderful parents, family, and friends!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the country "embraces" Alexander. He stressed that the Israeli government "is committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons -- both the living and the fallen," vowing to "act tirelessly until they are all brought home."
Israeli Health Ministry Spokeswoman Shira Solomon said Alexander was undergoing an initial medical assessment at the reception facility in Re'im base and would later be transferred to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.
In Hostages Square, a public plaza located in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and renamed following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, hundreds gathered to watch Alexander's return on large screens. They held up photos of the freed hostage and signs reading: "Only an end to the war in Gaza would secure the release of the remaining hostages."
Since October 2023, Israeli fire has killed 52,862 Palestinians and injured 119,648 others in Gaza, according to local health authorities on Monday.
