Israel is still holding firm to its ultimatum to Hamas, warning that a full-scale military operation in Gaza will proceed unless the terror group agrees to a ceasefire proposal that includes the immediate release of ten hostages. This remains the case even after news emerged on Sunday night that Edan Alexander is expected to be freed, according to a source who spoke with The Jerusalem Post.
The source clarified that unless Hamas formally accepts the terms of the truce — which involve releasing the hostages — the Israeli army will move ahead with its planned ground campaign to take over areas of Gaza and retain control. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu emphasized the importance of this strategy shift, stating that the new approach moves the IDF “from targeted raids to seizing territory and maintaining control over it.”
Israel’s leadership also revealed that the United States believes Alexander’s anticipated release could be a catalyst for renewed discussions around the broader hostage agreement and ceasefire plan. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, “The United States has informed Israel that this move is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages under the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted.”
The statement continued, explaining that Israeli officials are bracing for this scenario to unfold. “According to Israel’s policy, the negotiations will take place under fire, with a commitment to achieving all the war’s objectives,” the Prime Minister’s Office noted.
A source in Egypt, speaking to the Associated Press, said that Hamas’s move to release Alexander — who holds both American and Israeli citizenship — is intended as a sign of goodwill toward Trump.
“Direct contacts between Hamas and the US began five days ago,” the Egyptian official disclosed.
Reports cited by the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat indicated that Hamas plans to release Alexander around midday Monday. According to the report, “Alexander’s release is a gesture of goodwill toward Trump. Hamas was told, ‘Give [US President Donald] Trump a gift and he will repay you with a bigger gift.’”
Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler are expected to accompany Alexander’s family to Israel to help facilitate the release.
Trump, who also plans to travel to the Middle East, announced that Israel is not on his itinerary. Israeli officials confirmed that the military campaign would be launched only after Trump concludes his trip to the region.
Earlier on Sunday, Steve Witkoff expressed frustration with the Israeli government’s handling of the war, suggesting they were unnecessarily dragging it out.
“We want to bring the hostages home, but Israel is not willing to end the war. Israel is prolonging it despite the fact that we don’t see where else we can go and that an agreement must be reached,” Witkoff said in a conversation with families of the hostages.
“There is currently an opportunity window that we hope Israel and all the mediators will take advantage of. We are putting pressure on all the mediators and doing everything we can to bring the hostages home.”
{Matzav.com}