Hamas Releases US-Israeli Hostage Amid Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, 21, has been reunited with his family in Israel after being held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 19 months. Alexander was captured on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israeli army on the Gaza border. The release was facilitated by a temporary pause in Israel's military operations and was described by a Hamas official as a "goodwill gesture" ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East. Alexander is believed to be the last US citizen held by Hamas who was still alive. His family thanked Trump but also urged the Israeli government to continue working to free the remaining 58 hostages.

Hamas released Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old U.S.-Israeli dual citizen, after more than 19 months in captivity. Alexander was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israeli military. He was transferred to the Red Cross and then to the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas stated that the release was done without conditions and in the hope of working towards a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and renewing humanitarian aid. The release came after contacts with the U.S. administration, and Hamas expressed willingness to negotiate a final agreement to end the war and establish a prisoner exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Israel did not commit to a ceasefire or release of terrorists, but only to a safe corridor for Alexander's release. The development comes as the population of Gaza faces a critical risk of famine, with half a million people facing starvation.

Hamas released American hostage Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, after more than 580 days in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Alexander was received by a specialized Israel Defense Forces unit and taken to a facility for medical and psychological evaluation. He was later airlifted to a hospital in Tel Aviv to be reunited with his family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited the release to military pressure and diplomatic efforts by President Donald Trump. Alexander's mother, Yael, spoke with him over the phone after his release, expressing joy and relief. Alexander will receive comprehensive support, including medical, psychological, and logistical assistance, as part of his recovery.

Hamas has released Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship, as part of efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel. Alexander was kidnapped during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and was believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza. He was transferred to the Israel Defence Forces via the Red Cross and reunited with his family in southern Israel. Hamas stated that the release was part of ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, open crossings, and allow aid to reach Gaza. Alexander's family thanked US President Donald Trump and his administration for their work in securing his release. The release comes as Israel continues its war on Gaza, which has killed over 52,000 people and wounded over 119,000 since the October 2023 attack.

The entire population of Gaza, around 2.1 million Palestinians, is at "critical risk" of famine due to an ongoing Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, according to a UN-backed assessment. The report found that 1.95 million people, or 93% of Gaza's population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 244,000 facing "catastrophic" levels. Nearly 71,000 children under five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next 11 months. The situation has deteriorated significantly since October 2024, with many households resorting to extreme measures to find food. The IPC assessment concluded that famine is not currently occurring, but warned that it is "increasingly likely" without urgent action.

The head of the UN refugee agency, UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, has stated that Israel's denial of food to Gaza is a "weapon of war", which is a war crime. Lazzarini said that over two months without aid have led to starvation, exhaustion, and hunger among Gazans, with 22% of the population, or 470,000 people, experiencing extreme food insecurity and facing starvation. The UN and aid groups reject Israeli claims that Hamas controls food aid, and have refused to cooperate with Israel's plan to distribute aid using private security firms. The situation in Gaza is dire, with 70% of the territory off-limits to Palestinians, and Israel planning to displace hundreds of thousands more into a tiny area. Lazzarini warned that the situation could amount to genocide, and that the destruction and killing in Gaza are "massive atrocities".

The UN has called for urgent international action to deliver aid to Gaza, where nearly half a million people face catastrophic hunger due to the ongoing Israeli blockade. Parents are struggling to find food and medication for their children, with the blockade now in its third month. The BBC's Fergal Keane reports on the dire situation, describing it as a crisis.