The last American citizen held captive in Gaza has been released: will this ease diplomatic tensions?

The Hamas movement has released American-Israeli soldier Idan Alexander, who had been held captive in the Gaza Strip for over 19 months. This was reported by NBC News.

21-year-old Alexander was noted as the last living American citizen held captive in Gaza. He was handed over to representatives of the International Red Cross at a special crossing point in the southern city of Khan Younis.

It is reported that the release of the American soldier occurred ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East. Trump had previously announced that an agreement had been reached regarding this release.

The Hamas movement described this step as part of broader measures to temporarily halt hostilities in the Gaza Strip, deliver aid to the region, and open crossing points. In turn, the Israeli side decided to temporarily halt military operations, including airstrikes and artillery bombardments, in order to create conditions for Alexander's safe passage.

According to Israeli official sources, even after Idan Alexander's release, 58 other individuals remain captive in Gaza. It is estimated that 23 of them are currently alive.

The process of Alexander's release took place during a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to NBC News sources, the disagreement between the two leaders is related to political strategies concerning Gaza and Iran.

In this regard, Netanyahu's office issued a separate statement on May 12, stating that the Israeli government had only committed to ensuring Idan Alexander's safe passage, and that the issue of a peace agreement with Gaza or the release of Palestinian prisoners had not been raised.

"Current negotiations are taking place in a context where hostilities are ongoing and there is a possibility of escalating military actions," the statement said.

The Zamin.uz editorial team is closely monitoring how these events may impact regional stability and diplomatic relations. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this matter!