After months of zero movement on the release of hostages by Hamas (the last release was two and a half months ago, on February 22nd), the announcement that Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli dual citizen would be released, was a welcome shock.

Obviously, Edan Alexander, who was serving in the IDF on October 7th when he was abducted, is getting this special treatment and being singled out because of his status as an American citizen. President Donald Trump made the announcement on Sunday afternoon that Edan would be released.
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1921706395314917853
The confirmation by Hamas quickly followed, with a targeted time of noon Monday set for Edan Alexander to be released, though neither the United States or Israel has confirmed a precise time, only that they are preparing for the handover.

But why now, after months of stalemate? The reasons are likely twofold – one, to make some kind of good-faith gesture toward President Trump, who is traveling to the Middle East today. Apparently, the negotiating team in Qatar was really pushing for Edan Alexander, as an American, to be released while Trump was in the area.

A source involved in the mediation effort bringing about American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander’s release tells The Times of Israel that Hamas has agreed to release him as a gesture of goodwill to the Trump administration in the hope that Washington will coax Israel to end the war in Gaza.

The source says Hamas has received assurances from the US through mediators that Alexander’s release “would go a long way” with US President Donald Trump who wants to see the remaining hostages released and for the war in Gaza to end.

The second reason is that Hamas is actually feeling the impact of the aid embargo that Israel placed, along with the threat that Israel will simply re-occupy Gaza if all the hostages are not released by this coming Friday. In other words, Hamas is looking to save their sorry asses by offering up Edan Alexander directly to President Trump, who apparently plans to meet with Alexander and his family (who Trump has met previously in the United States). Clearly, this is meant to be an attempt by Hamas to cast Israel as the one unwilling to negotiate – when the truth is that it is Hamas who has stalled out the talks for months. Only now, when they are threatened with an actual deadline by Israel, are they running to offer up a hostage as a “goodwill gesture” in order to try and stay in power for as long as possible.

The circumstances of Edan Alexander’s release in no way mitigates his family’s joy that they will soon see him again.

On this Mother’s Day, it is my honor to travel with Edan Alexander’s mom Yael for reunion of her son from Hamas.

Thank you President Trump for your commitment to bringing all Americans home. @POTUS @SecRubio @SteveWitkoff ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/UwcehqJ0xB

— Adam Boehler (@aboehler) May 12, 2025

It’s an amazing reversal by Hamas, who just a few weeks ago claimed that they had lost track of Edan Alexander. For his family to then learn on Mother’s Day that he would be released was nothing short of emotional whiplash.

The Alexander family described the news on Mother’s Day as “the greatest gift imaginable” and thanked US President Donald Trump, his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the US administration for their “tireless work to make this happen.”

US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler will travel with the parents of Alexander to Israel for their son’s expected release, he told CNN Sunday.

Boehler and Adi and Yael Alexander will land in Israel on Monday.

“There was a team-led effort that the president really focused on Edan and then (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff made it a huge focus,” Boehler said. He would not give further details about the negotiations, but noted that “the signals have been very good.”

Boehler said that Trump remains committed to the release of all of the hostages and the return of US remains.

Alexander’s release “should be viewed by Israelis and Americans alike as a first important step,” he told CNN.

However, Alexander’s release in no way lessens the agony that the rest of the hostage families are still going through, whether their loved ones are alive or dead. There are still four American citizens who, in death, are being held hostage by Hamas. The negotiations to release their bodies is still ongoing. And there are still (hopefully) 20 other living hostages whose families want to see them released as soon as possible.

Is Hamas hoping to cut Israel out of the ceasefire talks by dealing directly with the United States, and then hoping the U.S. will save their butts and allow them to stay in control of Gaza, protecting them from any further Israeli retaliation? While it is of utmost importance to free the remaining living hostages and recover the bodies of the deceased, something feels off about how this has proceeded.

There is more to what is happening now than people realize, but I’m going to delay any public commentary until Alexander is home. https://t.co/nekHKGnGVC

— AG (@AGHamilton29) May 12, 2025

Obviously, this news means all eyes will be on President Trump during his visit to the Middle East, and we here at Victory Girls will be watching for the release of Edan Alexander and for what may be coming next.

Featured image: hostage poster of Edan Alexander from Hen Mazzig on X, cropped and modified