The Trump-Hamas Agreement on Alexander’s Release and the Damnation of the 2023 Israeli-Israel War in the Mideast
President Trump took to social media on Sunday to confirm the agreement with Hamas on Alexander’s release, saying that it was made to “put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
The U.S.-Hamas deal is the latest in a series of major decisions Trump has taken in the Mideast while sidestepping Israel’s leadership. Talks for a Saudi civilian nuclear program that would not be conditioned on Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel are some of the other moves.
Qatar and Egypt — two countries who have played key roles in negotiation efforts between Israel and Hamas throughout the war, along with the U.S. — issued a joint announcement welcoming the release of Alexander, calling it a “encouraging step” toward a ceasefire in Gaza.
Alexander’s release comes as Trump heads to visit Arab allies in the Gulf on Monday, in his first overseas trip during his second term. He is expected to discuss the future of Gaza with Arab leaders, but is not expected to visit Israel.
Alexander and more than half of the other hostages are believed to be dead, according to Israel. Hamas had released 38 hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel under a ceasefire deal that began on Jan. 19. But Israel’s military broke that ceasefire in March, after negotiations between the two parties failed to produce an extension of the truce.
Israel has since gained control of about a third of Gaza’s territory, and has imposed a complete blockade while continuing a deadly and destructive air campaign throughout. It said it would expand its offensive there.
Gaza health authorities say more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks on the territory since the start of the war in October 2023. There were at least 1,200 people killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that month, according to Israel.
Daniel Estrin and Kat Lonsdorf reported from Tel Aviv. Itay Stern contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Ahmed Abuhamda contributed from Cairo and Nuha Musleh from Ramallah.
A Hamas official told NPR that the release was in return for U.S. gestures, and that he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The official said it was anticipated that Israel would release some prisoners, and that the US would negotiate a larger deal with Israel that would guarantees the end of the war.
The ball is in the American and Israeli courts. We gave the Americans what they asked for. They need to get the other side to give things too,” the Hamas official said.
Supporters of the hostages expressed frustration that the Israeli leadership has not achieved their freedom while the U.S. struck its own deal with Hamas for the release of a U.S. citizen.
Maya Weinrich, a medical student with dual US-Israeli citizenship, said “Trump is doing a great job in maintaining and continuing to get these hostages back, and I am not sure what our government is doing to ensure the release of the hostages.”
“Trump has shown Israel that the United States is stronger,” said resident Ahmed Abu Hadid in Gaza City. “Without the U.S. there would never be any solutions.”