Hamas released Edan Alexander, a dual American-Israeli national and soldier, as it seeks to revive ceasefire negotiations and an end to Israels punishing blockade on the besieged Gaza Strip.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday evening that it had facilitated the soldiers transfer.
An image was released showing Alexander with Hamas members and a Red Cross official.Hamas said it had released Alexander as a goodwill gesture towards U.S.
President Donald Trump, who is on the way to Persian Gulf Arab nations.Fighting briefly stopped to allow for the handover after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would permit safe passage for the release.Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas.
Great news! Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.In a statement, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric welcomed Alexanders release while calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.We are relieved that one more family has been reunited today.
This nightmare, however, continues for the remaining hostages, their families, and hundreds of thousands of civilians across Gaza, Spoljaric said.Alexanders mother arrived in Israel on Monday and was flown to the Reim military base, where the two were reunited later in the evening, according to Al Jazeeras Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, because Al Jazeera is banned from Israel.His father also joined the family.Despite the release, Israel has made no commitment to a broader ceasefire.
Theres nothing in exchange, no release of Palestinian prisoners, no pause in the fighting, Salhut said.
If there are going to be any sort of negotiations, theyre going to happen under fire, Salhut added, referring to the Israeli governments prevailing line.Akiva Eldar, an Israeli political analyst, said Alexanders release has spurred joy as well as frustration in Israel.
What we see is that what President Trump can do, Netanyahu is not able or not willing to do, he told Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv.The Israeli prime minister has faced widespread calls to end the Gaza war to secure the captives release but has said he plans to expand Israels offensive..
This article first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times