Hamas has handed over Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, to the Red Cross on Monday (May 12). Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, was captured by Hamas on October 7 while serving in an elite infantry unit on the border with Gaza. The handover took place near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and Alexander was transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shortly thereafter.

The release of Alexander is seen as a goodwill gesture by Hamas ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, scheduled to begin on Tuesday (May 13). According to BBC News, Hamas announced the release to facilitate an aid deal, as Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for over two months.

The handover resulted from secret backchannel talks between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Haia, mediated by a third party, as reported by Axios. Alexander's parents have expressed hope that, if his medical condition allows, he will travel to Doha on Wednesday (May 14) to meet with President Donald Trump.

The Israeli government has not committed to a ceasefire, but has allowed a safe corridor for Alexander's release. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his assistance in securing Alexander's release. The Prime Minister's Office stated that negotiations with Hamas will continue under fire, and emphasized that if these efforts fail, Israel will proceed with a broad military operation.

The Afternoon News with Kitty O'Neal