The only living American hostage held captive by Hamas in Gaza for more than 19 months, has been freed this week.
21-year-old Edan Alexander was released following direct talks between US and Hamas officials in recent days.
He was handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza on Monday evening local time, before being transferred to the Israeli military and flown to a facility in southern Israel for medical tests and to reunite with his mother and other family members.
The handover was notable for its lack of fanfare with no staged ceremonies like the ones Hamas organised for other hostage transfers, which Israeli and US officials had denounced as “exploitative and cruel.”
HOSTAGE RELEASE COINCIDES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’s MIDEAST VISIT
Edan Alexander’s release coincided with the arrival of US President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia at the start of what could be a historic Middle East visit.
“This was 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,” the president posted ahead of his departure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by President Trump. This is a winning combination.”
In his first message, Edan Alexander thanked President Trump and wrote out “AM ISRAEL CHAI” (“The people of Israel Live”).
DETAILS EMERGE OF EDAN ALEXANDER’S ORDEAL IN CAPTIVITY
The freed soldier who was only 19 when captured, appeared in remarkably good physical shape for someone who was held prisoner in appalling conditions for 584 days.
However, appearances can be deceptive.
His family revealed he had spent part of his time in captivity, bound and with a bag over his head.
He described the first days after his abduction as “hell” and said that he was terrified by the Israeli bombings .
One of the tunnels where he was held collapsed, but he managed to survive unharmed.
AMERICAN CAPTIVE CONSIDERED ‘A VALUABLE ASSET’
Israeli news outlet Ynet revealed that senior Hamas officials considered Edan Alexander a valuable asset due to his American citizenship.
He was frequently updated on the developments of the war and watched numerous interviews with his family on television.
During periods of fighting in the Gaza Strip, his meals consisted of rice, pita bread and beans, but during ceasefires his diet improved and included lamb and beef.
However, his captors subjected him to abuse and torture during the initial days.
On his release he was covered in flea bites all over his body and with visible injuries.
HEALTH CONCERNS RULE OUT A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP
Edan told his family and Prime Minister Netanyahu that he feels weak and needs time to recover.
A possible meeting with President Trump in Qatar was cancelled because of his health issues.
It will take place in the US at a later date.
On Tuesday, he went up to his hospital roof with his family to get some sunlight.
He shared his deep concern for the 24 hostages who are still believed to be alive in Gaza.
THE HARDSHIPS EDAN ALEXANDER ENDURED
Edan’s mother Yael spoke of the hardships her son endured, including hunger, a lack of water, and appalling sanitary conditions.
“Every day that passed felt like an eternity. Every minute was a struggle between hope and despair.”
“The most horrifying sounds were those of war unfolding above their heads,” she recounted.
“Deafening explosions, the whistling of missiles, and the sounds of collapse, destruction, and the ground shaking. Every moment could have been the last.”
US EXPECTED TO ESCALATE PUSH FOR PEACE IN GAZA
Some Middle East analysts see the US hostage’s release as a victory of sorts for Hamas.
While the terror group received no compensation, they say that it succeeded in drawing the US into pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza.
President Trump kicked off the first major overseas mission of his second-term with a surprise announcement that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, as well as confirming that Saudi Arabia will commit to a trillion Australian dollars worth of investments in the US.
Washington also agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly A$220 billion which the The White House called the largest “defence cooperation agreement” in US history.
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ‘FERVENT HOPE’ FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
President Trump’s “fervent hope” is that Saudi Arabia would soon normalise relations with Israel, bringing together the region’s two biggest economies under the Abraham Accords which have seen smaller Arab states cement diplomatic ties with the Jewish state in recent years.
But he recognises such an agreement hinges on a solution to the Palestinian state impasse which is currently a distant hope.
“You’ll do it in your own time,” the president conceded.
