The world is getting more chaotic by the minute. Trump is trying to end the madness.
That’s why President Trump was brought to his knees by this stunning U.S. hostage news.
Trump Admin Secures Freedom For U.S. Hostage Held By Hamas
In a significant development on Friday, March 14, Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage still held in captivity in the Gaza Strip. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has seen numerous twists and turns over the past year and a half. Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, has endured 525 days in captivity, as reported by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, making his release a long-awaited breakthrough for his family and supporters.
The agreement stipulates that alongside Alexander, the bodies of four other hostages will also be handed over. This deal, facilitated by mediators, involves the remains of dual-national hostages, according to the Associated Press. While the exact timing of the transfer remains uncertain, this step aligns with ongoing negotiations in Qatar aimed at shaping the next phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The initial phase of the ceasefire concluded on March 1, and both sides are now working to establish terms for its continuation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken an active role in this process. His office announced on Friday that he plans to meet with his ministerial team on Saturday to review a detailed report from negotiators. This meeting will determine the subsequent actions needed to secure the hostages’ release. Netanyahu’s involvement signals the gravity of the situation and the priority Israel places on resolving the hostage crisis.
The push for this release stems from a U.S. proposal presented by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East. According to Axios, which cited sources familiar with the plan, Witkoff proposed extending the ceasefire by several weeks. In exchange, Hamas would release additional hostages, and humanitarian aid would resume flowing into Gaza, a region devastated by the ongoing war. This proposal was shared with both Israel and Hamas on Thursday, setting the stage for Friday’s announcement.
🚨 Trump:” I just saw 10 hostages and they were treated really badly. I was shocked. I asked them, 'Was there any kindness shown? … Did they ever say, 'Don't worry, you'll be ok … or give you an extra slice of bread or something?' And all of these people said, 'Zero. It was… pic.twitter.com/KSHzYjcVEo
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) March 12, 2025
Netanyahu, however, expressed frustration with Hamas’ stance. “While Israel has accepted the Witkoff proposal, Hamas remains firm in its refusal and has not moved an inch,” he stated on Friday. He accused the group of employing “manipulations and psychological warfare” to maintain leverage in the negotiations. This tension illustrates the challenges mediators face in brokering a lasting agreement between the two parties.
Witkoff himself has emphasized the importance of securing Alexander’s freedom. Speaking to reporters outside the White House last week, he said, “Edan Alexander is very important to us as all the hostages are.” His words reflect the United States’ commitment to ensuring the safe return of its citizens, a priority that has gained urgency as the conflict drags on.
Edan Alexander’s background adds a personal dimension to this geopolitical drama. Born in Israel just months before his family relocated to New Jersey, Alexander spent most of his life in the United States, according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC). After graduating high school, he chose a path less common among his peers: instead of pursuing college, he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), driven by a sense of duty to his birth country.
On October 7, 2023, Alexander was serving in the IDF’s Golani Brigade, an infantry unit stationed near Gaza. That day, Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, k*lling 1,200 people and abducting 251 individuals, including Alexander. The assault marked a turning point in the conflict, plunging the region into chaos and leaving families like Alexander’s in agonizing uncertainty.
Yael Alexander, Edan’s mother, vividly recalls the day her son was taken. In an interview with AJC’s People of the Pod, she described being in Israel in early October 2023 to visit family and see Edan. During a phone call that morning, Edan told her he was witnessing “terrible stuff” but reassured her of his safety. Moments later, he was captured, a memory that continues to haunt Yael as she awaits his return.
More than a year later, on November 30, 2024, Hamas released a propaganda video featuring Alexander. Speaking in Hebrew and Arabic, he delivered scripted messages targeting Netanyahu and then-President-elect Donald Trump. Such videos have become a grim tactic in Hamas’ strategy, forcing hostages to serve as mouthpieces in their psychological campaign against Israel and its allies.
Adi Alexander, Edan’s father, spoke to Fox & Friends First shortly after the video surfaced. He described it as “very emotional” and “disturbing,” noting it was the first proof of life they had received since Edan’s abduction. For the Alexander family, the footage offered a bittersweet glimpse of their son—alive, yet still far from home.
President-elect Donald Trump has also weighed in forcefully on the hostage situation. Earlier this month, he issued a stark warning to Hamas: “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you m*rdered, or it is OVER for you.” His rhetoric escalated further as he added, “A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
Hamas, however, has pushed back against such pressure. Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua, a spokesman for the group, argued that “the best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” lies in negotiating the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. This position suggests Hamas intends to use the hostages as bargaining chips, a strategy that has prolonged the ordeal for families and complicated diplomatic efforts.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a key advocacy group, welcomed Friday’s development with cautious optimism. “We wholeheartedly welcome the return of every hostage—whether they come home for rehabilitation or burial,” the group stated. Yet they stressed that this must be just the beginning, urging an “immediate and comprehensive deal” to free all remaining captives. With 59 hostages still unaccounted for, their mission remains far from complete.
The Forum also praised Trump’s commitment to the cause. “As President Trump has assured our families and the world, and as he has stated time and again, the return of all hostages is a top priority for his administration,” they noted. “His commitment to bringing our loved ones home has given us hope during this darkest of times.” As the situation unfolds, the families—and the world—wait anxiously to see if this hope will translate into action, bringing an end to their long nightmare.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
