A crowd gathered Monday in New Jersey to watch the release of Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, who has been held hostage for over 19 months.

The freeing of Alexander marks the first hostage release since Israel broke a weekslong ceasefire with Hamas in March. His release leaves 58 hostages remaining in Gaza; about half are believed to be alive. Hamas has said the move is a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration.

On May 11, Alexander's family and friends, his hometown and strangers around the world who followed his tragic story rejoiced at the news they'd been yearning for: The 21-year old New Jersey native, believed to be the last living American hostage captured by Hamas in its 2023 attack on Israel, appears to be coming home.