Hamas to Release US-Israeli Hostage Aden Alexander After 19 Months in Captivity

The war between Israel and Hamas continues. Meanwhile, Hamas said it could release an American-Israeli soldier Aden Alexander on Monday. Alexander has been held hostage in the Gaza Strip for the past 19 months. Hamas is presenting this move as a symbol of goodwill for the Donald Trump administration. This could create a new possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. During this time, Hamas took Aden Alexander hostage from his military post. After this attack, Israel started a war in Gaza. If Alexander is released, it will be the first release after the ceasefire was broken in March. At that time Israel had heavily bombed Gaza, in which hundreds of people were killed.

Israel had also made it clear that it would further intensify its military action on Gaza. Before the ceasefire, Israel had stopped the supply of essential goods to Gaza, which has increased the risk of a huge humanitarian crisis and starvation there. Israel says that all this is being done so that Hamas can be forced to accept a ceasefire on Israel's terms.

According to Israel, 59 hostages including Aden Alexander are still in Hamas' custody, out of which about 24 are alive and the rest have been killed. About 250 people were taken hostage in a Hamas attack in October 2023, many of whom were released during the ceasefire agreement.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Alexander's possible release is a positive step. Trump is going on a tour of West Asia on Tuesday. He will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but will not visit Israel. An Israeli official said that Trump's representative Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Monday and the official said that Trump's representative Steve Witkoff will arrive in Israel on Monday and will hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet on Iran's nuclear issue and the release of hostages.

A group called 'Hostages and Missing Families Forum' informed that Alexander's family has left the US for Israel. Israel's Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on Monday saying that Alexander's release is expected, but no time limit or conditions have been set. The statement also said that Israel has neither agreed to a ceasefire nor released any Palestinian prisoner in exchange for this release. Only a 'safe corridor' has been arranged through which Alexander can be brought back.