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12h ago

Trump Hosts Freed Gaza Hostage as Ceasefire Talks Advance

It underscores U.S. efforts to secure a two-month Gaza ceasefire now under review by Hamas

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FILE - People watch a live broadcast of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander as he is released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)
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Overview

  • On Thursday, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Edan Alexander in the Oval Office, six weeks after his May release from 584 days in Hamas captivity.
  • Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli abducted on October 7, 2023, urged the president to intensify efforts to secure freedom for the 58 Americans still held by Hamas in Gaza.
  • Earlier this week, Israel approved a U.S.-backed 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal; Hamas has since begun reviewing the draft advanced by envoy Steve Witkoff.
  • The president will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday to coordinate on a truce and broader hostage exchange agreement.
  • The administration’s direct engagement with Hamas, supported by Qatar and Egypt, departs from past policy in pursuit of a ceasefire and humanitarian relief for Gaza civilians.