U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and many others expressed gratitude for the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American Israeli hostage, who was held in captivity by Hamas since the war in Gaza began.
Alexander’s release was announced Sunday by President Donald Trump, who described the hostage’s release as “a step taken in good faith” toward the United States and Qatar and Egypt, the countries whose leaders assisted in mediation efforts. Alexander, 21, was handed off by Hamas in Khan Younis to the Red Cross, which will bring him to Israel to reunite with his family.
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“I am relieved that American Edan Alexander finally gets to come home,” Huckabee wrote on X. “As @POTUS said, we hope that this long-overdue release marks the beginning of the end to this terrible war. Hamas alone is responsible for the continued death and suffering. We demand the immediate release of all remaining hostages.”
I am relieved that American Edan Alexander finally gets to come home. As @POTUS said, we hope that this long-overdue release marks the beginning of the end to this terrible war. Hamas alone is responsible for the continued death and suffering. We demand the immediate release of…
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) May 12, 2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a video online of Alexander’s mother talking to her son over the phone, which she got from special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Leavitt described the moment as “incredible” and credited Trump and Witkoff for “saving lives.”
Incredible. God Bless Edan Alexander.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) May 12, 2025
President Trump and @SteveWitkoff are saving lives. ????????pic.twitter.com/r93vaE1hGq
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also posted his own video, in which he said the release was achieved by a “winning combination” of Israel’s military and Trump’s “diplomatic pressure.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 12, 2025
"This is a very emotional moment – Edan Alexander has returned home. We embrace him and we embrace his family.
This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination.
» pic.twitter.com/c9z3Nfpbq4
“I spoke with President Trump today,” Netanyahu said. “He said, ‘I am committed to Israel, to continuing to work with you in close cooperation’ in order to achieve all of our war objectives: releasing all of the hostages and defeating Hamas. This goes together. They are combined with each other.”
Rep. Josh Gotthemier (D-NJ), who was among others in Tenafly, New Jersey, on Monday morning to watch Alexander’s release, wrote that he was “overwhelmed with emotion and joy.” He added that he was “deeply grateful” to all who made Alexander’s release a reality.
Like everyone here in Jersey, I’m overwhelmed with emotion and joy. It’s hard to believe.
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) May 12, 2025
After 584 days of suffering, 21-year-old Edan Alexander — my constituent from Tenafly, NJ — is finally coming home.
My full statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hKFLLV7GT2
“Edan is an all-American kid who could have been anyone’s son,” Gotthemier’s statement read. “Through it all, the Alexander family never gave up hope – and neither did we. From traveling to Qatar and Egypt to the UAE and Israel, to pushing the Administration at every level, with the leadership of his parents, we fought tirelessly to bring him back home. In America and Jersey, we never leave anyone behind.”
“What an incredible relief for the Alexander family,” Trump’s former national security adviser, Mike Waltz, wrote. “They never gave up on their son Edan and neither did the Trump Administration!”
What an incredible relief for the Alexander family. They never gave up on their son Edan and neither did the Trump Administration! https://t.co/b97xJmLmA3
— Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) May 11, 2025
“Edan, believed to be the last living American hostage, was held by Hamas for nearly 600 days,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote. “The Biden regime twiddled its thumbs while the Alexander family suffered for 19 months. President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize.”
BREAKING: Edan Alexander is out of Hamas captivity.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) May 12, 2025
Edan, believed to be the last living American hostage, was held by Hamas for nearly 600 days. The Biden regime twiddled its thumbs while the Alexander family suffered for 19 months.
President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize.
HAMAS GIVES EDAN ALEXANDER, THE LAST LIVING AMERICAN HELD BY GROUP, TO RED CROSS
Alexander moved from the U.S. to Israel at 18 and was serving in the Israeli military when he was captured from his base during Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Following Alexander’s release, the terrorist group still holds over 50 hostages since its attack, a third of whom are believed to still be alive.
Israel has demanded that Hamas demilitarize and remove itself from power in Gaza, while the group has refused to give up its hold. The Israeli negotiating team heading to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday will be tasked with trying to secure the release of the remaining Hamas hostages.