Tenafly, New Jersey – Early on May 12, a crowd gathered to witness the live release of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier.

Jason D. Meister posted a video of the moment. He wrote, “6am EST: The entire town of Tenafly New Jersey have come to watch the live release of their own, Edan Alexander.”

Edan Alexander was captured during the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. He was taken from his military base in southern Israel and held in Gaza for over 19 months.

Hamas announced his release as a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration. It may mark a step toward a possible ceasefire after months of conflict.

This would be the first release since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire in March. After that, Israel launched heavy strikes on Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Israel has since vowed to continue its offensive, including territorial seizures and mass displacement. The blockade on Gaza remains in place, cutting off vital imports and intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

Aid agencies have warned that the ongoing blockade could trigger famine. Israel says these actions are meant to push Hamas into agreeing to a ceasefire under Israeli terms.

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