21-year-old Alexander is Israeli-American and USA's President Donald Trump stated over the weekend that he will be released from captivity in Gaza "as a gesture of goodwill" from the terrorist-stamped Hamas side – thus implicitly without counter-demands.
Alexander is expected to be released on Monday, Hamas announced according to AFP. In connection with this, Israel has promised not to attack, a Hamas source tells the news agency.
Israel cannot, according to sources, publicly acknowledge that there is a ceasefire.
Talks under gunfire
Officially, Israel reacts positively to the expected release, while emphasizing that Israeli forces do not plan to lay down their arms.
"The USA has conveyed to Israel that this is expected to lead to," says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu according to a press release – a signal that the pressure is now increasing to achieve a new ceasefire in the Gaza war.
"In line with Israel's line, the negotiations will continue under gunfire, based on our commitment to achieve the war's goals," he continues.
Nothing in return?
Edan Alexander's release is surrounded by what appears to be a geopolitical power play. It takes place the day before Trump's planned Middle East trip, with scheduled visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. According to Israeli Ynet, the USA is considering letting Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who landed in Israel on Monday, fly Alexander to Qatar after the release to meet Trump there.
According to reports, the USA has bypassed Israel to negotiate the release. A Hamas representative tells BBC that the extremist movement is holding direct talks in Qatar – without Israeli presence.
Observers are simultaneously wondering what Hamas has to gain from releasing a hard currency like Alexander – an Israeli soldier – without getting anything in return. According to Hamas, the release of the 21-year-old constitutes "a step towards a ceasefire" with Israel.
