American hostage from Tenafly, NJ, released by Hamas
Hostage Edan Alexander released by Hamas
FOX 5 NY's Arthur Chi'en is in Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander's native town, to speak with members of the crowd that had awaited his release.
An American man held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip was released Monday, Hamas authorities said Monday around 11:30 a.m. ET.
Israeli authorities later said Alexander was with the Red Cross.
The backstory:
Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier, was taken from his military base in southern Israel during Hamas' cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which set off the war in Gaza.
Local perspective:
Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander moved to Israel at 18 to volunteer for military service in the IDF’s Golani Brigade. He lived with his grandparents in Tel Aviv and at Kibbutz Hazor, where he was part of a group of lone soldiers, FOX News reported.
FOX 5 NY's Arthur Chi'en spoke with members of the crowd awaiting Alexander's release.
"Usually you go to work on a Monday, but today it's Edan coming home… everyone is here to celebrate him coming home," a local told Chi'en.
By the numbers:
Alexander had been held for more than 19 months before his release Monday.
What they're saying:
Hamas announced over the weekend that they’d release Alexander as a goodwill gesture for the Trump administration.
Senior Fellow Katulis
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Brian Katulis spoke with FOX 5 about Alexander's release.
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Brian Katulis on Edan Alexander
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Brian Katulis comes on FOX 5 to discuss the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and
Katulis also discussed the implications the release might have on President Trump's relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Big picture view:
This was the first hostage release since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March.
Israel was aware of the release, saying it had committed to a ceasefire or to free Palestinian prisoners as part of the release and that it had only agreed to create a "safe corridor" to allow for Alexander to be returned.
The release has created backlash against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with critics accusing him of having to rely on a foreign leader to help free the remaining hostages.
Dig deeper:
A statement from Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said the U.S. had told Israel that Alexander's release could lead to a new deal with Hamas to free more hostages.
Trump trip to Middle East
Meamwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday on his first official foreign trip.
He said Sunday that the planned release is "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 and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones."
What's next:
Trump is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.