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Hamas to hand over Alexander to Red Cross
We understand that the release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander will take place today. He will be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross and taken to Israel, where he will be reunited with his family members.
This move is seen as a part of ongoing efforts to restart dialogue.
Hamas will not get anything in return for this exchange. It is a goodwill gesture to the American administration to facilitate ceasefire negotiations and the entry of humanitarian aid supplies.
Israeli aircraft to stop flying over Gaza during captive’s release
The Israeli military and hospitals in the country are making preparations similar to the release of captives previously, in anticipation of Alexander’s release, according to Israel’s Channel 12 broadcaster.
This includes Israel stopping “flying its aircraft over Gaza to gather information or for any other purpose”, Channel 12 reported. It said that Israeli forces operating in Gaza were notified of a ceasefire set to begin at 09:00 GMT.
Earlier, Netanyahu’s office said Israel has not committed to a ceasefire in any way for Alexander’s release, but will allow a “safe corridor” for the move.
Slight uptick in Israeli attacks on Gaza City, Rafah
Despite Israel’s declaration it will pause military activities in Gaza to secure the release of Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander, there has been a slight surge in Israeli attacks over the past hour.
This is particularly the case for Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood, where a military attack hit a group of people, killing at least one and wounding several others. They have been transported to the al-Ahli Hospital for initial medical treatment.
Elsewhere, in southern Gaza’s Rafah, a number of families tried to return to their neighbourhoods to check on their houses. They also came under Israeli fire.
Until now, there has not been full Israeli de-escalation.
‘Disgrace, humiliation’: Israeli opposition leaders lambast Netanyahu
Opposition politicians in Israel are criticising Netanyahu’s failure to secure the release of the remaining captives in Gaza after the US held direct talks with Hamas to obtain Alexander’s freedom.
Yair Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party, said the US-Israel captives’ release is “welcome and exciting”, but that it must lead to a broad deal to bring all the remaining captives home.
“The reports of direct contacts between Hamas and the US are a disgraceful diplomatic failure by the Israeli government and its leader. The kidnapped are ours, and the responsibility for their return lies with the government,” he wrote on X.
Benny Gantz of the Israeli Resilience Party also called on Netanyahu “to fulfil his responsibility” and said his stomach “turns to see how the Israeli government lacks any initiative and responsibility”.
Yair Golan, the leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, meanwhile, told Maariv that the “fact that Edan Alexander is released only because he holds American citizenship is a disgrace and humiliation”.
He also expressed shock that Alexander, who is an Israeli soldier, needed the US president to secure his release.
‘Shameful’ that captives need dual nationality to be freed: Israeli captive’s father
The father of Israeli captive Eitan Mor has voiced frustration over what he sees as preferential treatment for dual nationals, as Israeli-American Edan Alexander is set for release.
“It’s shameful for me as a Zionist and a patriot that I need foreign citizenship to get priority,” Tzvika Mor told Israel’s Maariv news site. “I don’t have expectations from Trump, I have expectations from my own government.”
While congratulating the Alexander family, Mor urged Israeli officials to secure the return of all captives.
“I cannot accept the idea of a partial deal,” he said. “You can’t play games with our fighters – this story must be ended as soon as possible.”
