Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly stated that there will be no ceasefire agreement in exchange for the release of US-Israeli dual citizen and soldier Edan Alexander, despite reports from a source close to Hamas that his release could happen as early as Monday or Tuesday.
According to the source, Hamas is prepared to hand over the 21-year-old Alexander, who is currently being held in Gaza, pending the establishment of secure field conditions necessary for a safe transfer to the Red Cross. The group has opted against organizing a public handover ceremony and requested that American envoys ensure an end to Israeli military operations during the process to enable a safe corridor for the exchange.
Hamas made the announcement ahead of an anticipated visit by US President Donald Trump to the Middle East. The group indicated that it has been involved in direct negotiations with Washington aimed at securing a broader ceasefire deal. Although no exact release date has been provided, the source affirmed that Alexander’s release is expected “most likely” within the next 48 hours.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, dismissed the notion of any formal ceasefire tied to the potential release. He clarified that Israel has agreed only to provide a safe passage for Alexander’s handover—not to a cessation of hostilities or the release of Palestinian prisoners. He emphasized that negotiations regarding the broader release of hostages would persist even amidst intensified military actions.
Meanwhile, President Trump hailed the anticipated release as a “monumental” development and a “good faith gesture,” expressing optimism that it could lead to an end to the ongoing conflict. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as part of his regional tour.
Mediators Egypt and Qatar, along with the US, welcomed Hamas’s move, describing it in a joint statement as a positive step towards reviving negotiations. Ongoing talks in Doha have reportedly shown “progress,” according to two Hamas officials.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Israeli airstrikes continued across Gaza. The local civil defense agency reported that at least ten people were killed overnight in a strike on a school sheltering displaced civilians.
Currently, 58 of the 251 individuals kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, assault on Israel remain in captivity, with the Israeli military reporting that 34 of them are presumed dead. Following the end of a two-month ceasefire on March 18, Israel launched an intensified military campaign in Gaza and imposed a total blockade, aiming to exert pressure on Hamas for further hostage releases.
In a notable policy shift, the United States began direct engagement with Hamas in March after years of avoiding official contact due to its designation of the group as a terrorist organization.
Hamas has reiterated its demand for a permanent end to the conflict. On April 18, it rejected an Israeli proposal for a 45-day truce involving a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group expressed willingness to immediately begin intensive negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement that would conclude the war and place Gaza under an independent, technocratic administration.
On the aid front, Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar announced full support for a US-proposed plan to restore humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite international criticism over the plan’s exclusion of the United Nations and established relief organizations. The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, warned that it is “impossible” to be replaced in the region.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel that killed 1,218 people—mostly civilians—has since escalated dramatically. Gaza’s health ministry, controlled by Hamas, reported that at least 2,720 people have died since Israel resumed its offensive, raising the overall death toll to 52,829.
