Hamas agrees to free American hostage held for 525 days

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Hamas has promised to free a New Jersey man it captured during its Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, the terrorist group said Friday.

Hamas said it will release 21-year-old Edan Alexander with the bodies of four deceased hostages as part of a series of prisoner exchanges with Israel, Fox News reported, citing a statement from the organization. Alexander, a dual citizen, is the last living American hostage Hamas took when it invaded Israel in October 2023 and ignited more than 15 months of war in the Middle East.

The Palestinian militants did not elaborate on when they would release Alexander, who has been in captivity for 525 days as of Friday. Negotiations in Qatar to settle the war are ongoing amid a temporary ceasefire.

Hamas said it “affirms its complete readiness to initiate negotiations” while “calling for [Israel] to fully implement its obligations,” according to Times of Israel. The four bodies Hamas agreed to hand over are of other dual citizens, though the group did not name them.

The announcement comes days after President Donald Trump gave the terrorists a “last warning” to release their living and dead hostages, saying on March 5 it would be “over for” them if they did not comply.