Hamas agrees to release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage

Hamas agreed Friday to merchandise Edan Alexander, the past surviving American hostage successful captivity successful the Gaza Strip.

Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, volition beryllium released on with the bodies of 4 different hostages, according to a woody offered by mediators. As of Friday, Alexander has been held captive for 525 days, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

Though helium spent astir of his beingness successful New Jersey, Alexander was calved successful Israel a fewer months earlier his parents moved to the U.S., according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

After graduating from precocious school, Alexander decided helium would enlist successful the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alternatively than enroll successful college.

Edan Alexander, calved successful Tel Aviv and raised successful New Jersey, is presently being held hostage by Hamas successful Gaza.  (Hostage Family Forum)

On Oct. 7, Alexander, who was serving successful the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit, was patrolling adjacent Gaza erstwhile Hamas’ attacks connected Israel began. The attacks ended with 1,200 Israelis dormant and 251 hostages taken, including Alexander.

Yael Alexander, Edan’s mother, recounted the time helium was taken hostage successful a caller interrogation with AJC’s "People of the Pod." Yael was successful Israel successful aboriginal October 2023, visiting her household and hoping to spot Edan. On the greeting of Oct. 7, she spoke with Edan, who said that helium was seeing "terrible stuff," but helium assured her that helium was safe. Then helium was taken hostage.

Yael Alexander, the parent of hostage Edan Alexander, speaks during The  ‘Run for Their Lives’ rally and tally successful Central Park connected the 100th time since the October 7 onslaught by Hamas, connected Jan. 14, 2024 successful New York City.  (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

On Nov. 30, 2024, much than a twelvemonth aft Alexander was captured, Hamas released a video of Alexander speaking successful Hebrew and Arabic. Alexander, similar different hostages forced to marque propaganda videos, delivered messages astir Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-President-elect Donald Trump.

A fewer days aft the video’s release, Adi Alexander, Edan’s father, spoke with "Fox & Friends First," calling the movie "very emotional" and "disturbing." He said it was the archetypal clip they had seen a motion of beingness from their lad since helium was taken hostage.

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Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.