Dear A.,

After 584 unimaginably horrific days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, American-Israeli Edan Alexander was finally freed and returned home to Israel today. 

Watch this powerful and emotional video of Edan being reunited with his parents, Yael and Adi, and his siblings:

Edan, a 21-year-old from Tenafly, New Jersey, was the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza. 58 hostages, including 4 Americans, remain in captivity.

Initial reports indicate that over the past 18 months he was tortured and abused, held in tunnels without sunlight, kept alive on minimal amounts of food, chained by the hands and legs, and kept in a cage for long periods of time.

A Red Cross official said Edan's "physical condition was poor, but he is smiling," and that he required assistance getting into the car.

After being released by Hamas to the Red Cross, Edan was then delivered to IDF troops in Gaza. From there, they took him to the Re'im Military Base for a medical screening and to be reunited with his family.

Edan spoke to his mother Yael over the phone while in the IDF convoy, the first time he was able to speak to her since being taken hostage.

Following his release, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said:
 

"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.

"I spoke with President Trump today. 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."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said:
 

"I am relieved that American Edan Alexander finally gets to come home. As [President Trump] 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."

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff helped broker Edan's release and was with Edan's parents when they heard from their son for the first time in 584 days.

AIPAC applauds President Trump and Special Envoy Witkoff for helping free Edan.

America must continue to stand with Israel as it fights to free all 58 hostages and drive Hamas from Gaza.

President Trump departs for Middle East

President Trump departed for the Middle East today for a four-day tour with visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The White House press secretary said the trip will "focus on strengthening ties" between America and the Gulf states.

Iran nuclear negotiations to continue after talks this weekend

After a fourth round of talks on Sunday, the United States and Iran are expected to continue negotiations over the regime's nuclear program.

"We are encouraged by today's outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future," a U.S. official said following the talks. 

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman said the talks were "difficult but useful... to better understand each other's positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences."

The United States must continue to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime coupled with a credible threat of military force to facilitate time-bound negotiations to verifiably and permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.

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Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications