In a moment steeped in raw emotion and relief, 21-year-old Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander was released on Monday after enduring 19 months of captivity in Gaza. The long-awaited reunion with his family came during a brief humanitarian pause in fighting.

Alexander, who had been held by militants since late 2023, was transferred to an Israeli military facility shortly after his release. Waiting for him was the family he had been torn from—now overjoyed and overwhelmed to finally hold him again.

A video capturing the exact moment of the reunion has gone viral, sweeping across social media platforms. In it, Alexander’s mother is seen sprinting toward him, tears streaming down her face as she wraps him in a trembling embrace, saying, “How strong you are. I love you so much, Edan. We were so worried.”

Alexander kissed and embraced his father, brother and sister as well. He was the last living American held by Hamas.

Fighting halted at midday in Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would pause its operations to allow for the hostage release.

Hamas said it freed Alexander as a goodwill gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region this week.

“Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!” Trump wrote on social media earlier on Monday.

Netanyahu said the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander came after Israel’s military pressure and political pressure exerted by Trump.

Palestinian health officials reported Israeli tank shelling and an air attack after the hostage handover, and there was no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases as monitors warned of famine in the devastated enclave.