Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an American national and soldier-Israeli soldier, while seeking to relaunch the cease-fire negotiations and at the end of the punishing blocking of Israel on the besieged and bombed Gaza Strip.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday evening that it had facilitated the soldier’s transfer. An image has been published showing Alexander with members of Hamas and a Red Cross official.
Hamas said that he had released Alexandre as a goodwill gesture towards US President Donald Trump, who visits the Arab Gulf Nations this week.
The fighting briefly stopped to allow the transfer after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said ISRAEL would authorize a safe passage for the Liberation.
“Edan Alexander, American Hostage thought Dead, who will be released by Hamas. Good news!” Trump wrote on his social platform for truth.
“The government of Israel warmly welcomes the sergeant of soldier Edan Alexander, who was dismissed from the captivity of Hamas,” said a statement from the Netanyahu office.
“The government of Israel is attached to the return of all hostages and disappeared people – both the living and the dead,” the statement added. The families of captives accused Netanyahu of having put his own political survival above that of captives still held in Gaza.
In a statement, the president of the ICRC, Mirjana Sprjaric, praised Alexander’s release while calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
“We are relieved that another family has been brought together today. This nightmare, however, continues for the remaining hostages, their families and hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza,” SPOLJARIC said.
Alexandre’s mother would have arrived in Israel on Monday and was reportedly transported to the Re’im military base, where the two should be gathered later in the evening, according to Hamdah Salhut d’Tel Aviv Tribune, postponing Amman, Jordan, because Tel Aviv Tribune is banished from Israel.
Despite the press release, Israel has committed to a wider ceasefire. “There is nothing in exchange, no release of Palestinian prisoners, no break in the fighting,” said Salhut. “If there will be negotiations, they will occur under fire,” added Salhut, referring to the dominant line of the Israeli government.
Akiva Eldar, Israeli political analyst, said that Alexander’s release had stimulated joy and frustration in Israel. “What we see is that what President Trump can do, Netanyahu is not able – or not willing – to do,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune de Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Prime Minister has faced many calls to end the Gaza War to guarantee the liberation of captives, but said that he planned to extend the offensive of Israel.
“Today is a crucial point,” said Eldar. “Because the Israeli public is aware of the fact that if you want an agreement, if you want your sons to come home, you can do it. But for that, you have to be a leader like President Trump and not like Netanyahu.”
Liberation changes little for devastated Palestinians
The Khoudary Hinding of Tel Aviv Tribune, reporting Deir El-Balah from Deir El-Balah to the center of Gaza, said that there does not seem to be any change to come in the daily suffering of the Palestinians: “The Palestinians are devastated. They are exhausted. Palestinian families are unable to feed their children. They say that their children are going to bed hungry. “
“The IPC report (classification of the integrated food security phase) published today said that 93% of the Gaza population lived acute food insecurity. This is due to the blockade that was imposed on the Gaza Strip,” Khoudary said.
“Palestinians ask:” What’s the next one? What will this release bring? Are there positive negotiations? Is there a glimpse of the hope of a ceasefire? “” She added.
And the bombing continues, the Gaza Ministry of Health said that an Israeli strike on a school that has become a tile killed at least 15 people on Monday.
Gaza at the edge of the famine
Humanitarian organizations have warned that Gaza is on the verge of mass famine. The IPC reported that half a million Palestinians are faced with imminent famine.
According to the IPC, 70 days after the entry blocked by Israel of essential supplies, “the goods essential to the survival of people are exhausted or which should run out in the coming weeks”.
The head of the United Nations World Food Program, Cindy McCain, has urged immediate international action. “Gaza’s families are hungry while the food they need are seated on the border,” she said. “If we wait after confirmation of a famine, it will already be too late for many people.”
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, also issued a striking warning. “The risk of famine does not suddenly arrive,” she said. “It takes place in places where access to food is blocked, where health systems are decimated and where children are left without the strict minimum to survive.”
Hunger, she added, has become “a daily reality for children on the other side of the Gaza Strip”.
Gaza Assault should continue
Netanyahu and her hard government remain determined to intensify the military campaign in Gaza.
The far-right minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key partner of the coalition, reiterated his position according to which war must continue and humanitarian aid should be prevented from entering the territory.
“Israel did not engage in a ceasefire of any kind,” said Netanyahu’s office in a statement, saying that military pressure had forced Hamas to release Alexander. Critics replied that the release came solely due to direct contacts of the United States with Hamas.
Netanyahu met us figures, including Trump Steve Witkoff and ambassador Mike Huckabee on Monday. His office described Reunion as a “last effort” to advance a captive derivation agreement before the fighting widen.
Huckabee said Trump and his administration “hope this longtime release” of Alexandre “Marques the beginning of the end of this terrible war”.
Israel plans to send a delegation to Doha on Tuesday for talks, but clearly made military operations persist. “The Prime Minister clearly said that the negotiations would only have under fire,” said his office.