Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old American citizen who has been held hostage in Gaza since October 2023, is now in Israeli custody and on his way back to Israeli territory, reports Axios.

The announcement follows yesterday's confirmation from Hamas that it would release Alexander as part of what the group called "intensified efforts to achieve a ceasefire, open border crossings, and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip." Hamas initially gave no timeline for the release.

President Donald Trump, who has been involved in ongoing negotiations to secure the release of Alexander praised the news of his release in a statement issued yesterday. "I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family," Trump said.

Alexander was held for 584 days.

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