Hamas has launched Edan Alexander, a twin United States-Israeli nationwide and soldier, because it seeks to revive ceasefire negotiations and an finish to Israel’s punishing blockade on the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip.
The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday night that it had facilitated the soldier’s switch. A picture was launched exhibiting Alexander with Hamas members and a Pink Cross official.
Hamas mentioned it had launched Alexander as a goodwill gesture in direction of US President Donald Trump, who’s visiting Arab Gulf nations this week.
Combating briefly stopped to permit for the handover after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel would allow protected passage for the discharge.
“Edan Alexander, American hostage thought useless, to be launched by Hamas. Nice information!” Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform.
“The federal government of Israel warmly welcomes soldier Sergeant Edan Alexander who has been returned from Hamas captivity,” an announcement from Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned.
“The federal government of Israel is dedicated to the return of all hostages and lacking individuals – each the residing and the fallen,” the assertion added. Households of the captives have accused Netanyahu of placing his personal political survival above that of the captives nonetheless held in Gaza.
In an announcement, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric welcomed Alexander’s launch whereas calling for an enduring ceasefire in Gaza.
“We’re relieved that yet one more household has been reunited at present. This nightmare, nonetheless, continues for the remaining hostages, their households, and a whole bunch of hundreds of civilians throughout Gaza,” Spoljaric mentioned.
Alexander’s mom reportedly arrived in Israel on Monday and was flown to the Re’im army base, the place the 2 had been anticipated to be reunited later within the night, in keeping with Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, as a result of Al Jazeera is banned from Israel.
Regardless of the discharge, Israel has made no dedication to a broader ceasefire. “There’s nothing in trade, no launch of Palestinian prisoners, no pause within the preventing,” Salhut mentioned. “If there are going to be any kind of negotiations, they’re going to occur below hearth,” Salhut added, referring to the Israeli authorities’s prevailing line.
Akiva Eldar, an Israeli political analyst, mentioned Alexander’s launch has spurred pleasure in addition to frustration in Israel. “What we see is that what President Trump can do, Netanyahu is just not in a position – or not prepared – to do,” he instructed Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli prime minister has confronted widespread calls to finish the Gaza warfare to safe the captives’ launch however has mentioned he plans to increase Israel’s offensive.
“Right this moment is an important level,” Eldar defined. “As a result of the Israeli public is conscious of the truth that if you would like a deal, if you would like your sons again at residence, you are able to do it. However for that, it’s a must to be a frontrunner like President Trump and never like Netanyahu.”
Launch modifications little for devastated Palestinians
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, mentioned there appears to be no change forthcoming in Palestinians’ each day struggling: “Palestinians are devastated. They’re exhausted. Palestinian households are unable to feed their kids. They’re saying their kids are going to mattress hungry.”
“The IPC [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] report issued at present mentioned 93 p.c of Gaza’s inhabitants resides by acute meals insecurity. That is due to the blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip,” Khoudary mentioned.
“Palestinians are asking, ‘What’s subsequent? What is that this launch going to carry? Are there any optimistic negotiations? Is there any glimpse of hope of a ceasefire?’” she added.
And the bombardment continues, Gaza’s Ministry of Well being mentioned an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter killed no less than 15 individuals on Monday.
Gaza on brink of famine
Humanitarian organisations have warned that Gaza is on the verge of mass hunger. The IPC reported that half one million Palestinians face imminent famine.
In response to the IPC, 70 days after Israel blocked entry of important provides, “items indispensable for individuals’s survival are both depleted or anticipated to expire within the coming weeks.”
The top of the UN’s World Meals Programme, Cindy McCain, urged instant worldwide motion. “Households in Gaza are ravenous whereas the meals they want is sitting on the border,” she mentioned. “If we wait till after a famine is confirmed, it’ll already be too late for many individuals.”
Catherine Russell, Government Director of UNICEF, additionally issued a stark warning. “The danger of famine doesn’t arrive abruptly,” she mentioned. “It unfolds in locations the place entry to meals is blocked, the place well being methods are decimated, and the place kids are left with out the naked minimal to outlive.”
Starvation, she added, has grow to be “a each day actuality for youngsters throughout the Gaza Strip”.
Gaza assault set to proceed
Netanyahu and his hardline authorities stay dedicated to escalating the army marketing campaign in Gaza.
Far-right Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition companion, reiterated his place that the warfare should proceed and humanitarian help ought to be blocked from coming into the territory.
“Israel has not dedicated to a ceasefire of any variety,” Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned in an announcement, claiming army stress had compelled Hamas to launch Alexander. Critics have countered that the discharge took place purely due to direct US contacts with Hamas.
Netanyahu met US figures, together with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, on Monday. His workplace described the assembly as a “last-ditch effort” to push ahead a captive-release deal earlier than the preventing widens.
Huckabee mentioned Trump and his administration “hope this long-overdue launch” of Alexander “marks the start of the tip to this horrible warfare”.
Israel plans to ship a delegation to Doha on Tuesday for talks however made clear army operations would persist. “The prime minister made it clear that negotiations would solely happen below hearth,” his workplace mentioned.
