The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.

 <div data-item="3546811" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-official-hostages-release-secured-thanks-to-military-pressure-on-hamas/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-official-hostages-release-secured-thanks-to-military-pressure-on-hamas/"><span data-timestamp="1747010693" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 03:44:53 +0300">3:44 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-official-hostages-release-secured-thanks-to-military-pressure-on-hamas/">Israeli official: Hostage’s release secured thanks to military pressure on Hamas</a></h4> <p>An Israeli official claims in an anonymous statement to reporters that hostage Edan Alexander’s imminent released was secured thanks to Israel’s military pressure on Hamas.</p>
<p>“Hamas understood it must make a gesture to the Americans because this is the only way for it to try to prevent the expansion of the war,” the official says.</p>
<p>Appearing to respond to criticism from hostage families and the opposition that Alexander was being freed solely due to his American nationality, the official adds: “Thanks to the military pressure, Hamas agreed thus far to release most of our hostages, regardless of foreign passports. We will continue to do everything to return all of our hostages.”</p>
<p>The official says Israel will facilitate a safe corridor to get Alexander out of Gaza — presumably meaning halting fighting and reconnaissance flights in certain areas — but stresses that there is no ceasefire and that Hamas isn’t getting anything in return for the release. If Hamas agrees to an Israel-accepted proposal for a wider hostage deal, the expansion of the war will be postponed, the official adds.</p>
<div class="single-share"> <button type="button" class="single-share-wrap-btn">Share</button> </div> </div> </div>  <div data-item="3546796" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/edan-alexander-to-be-released-on-monday-senior-us-official-says/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/edan-alexander-to-be-released-on-monday-senior-us-official-says/"><span data-timestamp="1747007527" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 02:52:07 +0300">2:52 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/edan-alexander-to-be-released-on-monday-senior-us-official-says/">Edan Alexander to be released on Monday, senior US official says</a></h4> <div class="byline">By <a title="Jacob Magid" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/">Jacob Magid</a><span class="add-after"></span></div> <div class="media"><a rel="lightbox" href="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2023/12/Edan-Alexander.jpg"><img decoding="async" width="100%" height="auto" src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2023/12/Edan-Alexander-640x400.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Edan Alexander was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)" title="Edan Alexander was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)"></a><div class="caption">Edan Alexander was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)</div></div> <p>American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander will be released on Monday, a senior US official tells The Times of Israel.</p>
<p>Alexander’s parents are traveling to Israel from the US with the Trump administration’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler in order to arrive in time for their son’s release.</p>
<div class="single-share"> <button type="button" class="single-share-wrap-btn">Share</button> </div> </div> </div> <div data-item="3546793" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-welcomes-deal-to-free-us-israeli-hostage-says-its-part-of-push-to-return-everyone-end-the-war/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-welcomes-deal-to-free-us-israeli-hostage-says-its-part-of-push-to-return-everyone-end-the-war/"><span data-timestamp="1747004027" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 01:53:47 +0300">1:53 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-welcomes-deal-to-free-us-israeli-hostage-says-its-part-of-push-to-return-everyone-end-the-war/">Trump welcomes deal to free US-Israeli hostage, says it’s part of push to return everyone, end the war</a></h4> <p>US President Donald Trump posts a statement confirming the imminent release of American-Israeli Gaza hostage Edan Alexander, thanking all those involved and adding that it’s part of a wider effort to return all the captives and end the 19-month war.</p>
<p>“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” Trump says on Truth Social.</p>
<p>“I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones. Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!”</p>
<div class="single-share"> <button type="button" class="single-share-wrap-btn">Share</button> </div> </div> </div> <div data-item="3546791" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-hostage-envoy-boehler-to-head-to-israel-alongside-parents-of-edan-alexander/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-hostage-envoy-boehler-to-head-to-israel-alongside-parents-of-edan-alexander/"><span data-timestamp="1747003749" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 01:49:09 +0300">1:49 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-hostage-envoy-boehler-to-head-to-israel-alongside-parents-of-edan-alexander/">US hostage envoy Boehler to head to Israel alongside parents of Edan Alexander</a></h4> <div class="byline">By <a class="byline-link link-with-b-margin" title="Jacob Magid" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/">Jacob Magid</a> and <a class="byline-link" title="Reuters" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/reuters/">Reuters</a></div> <div class="media"><a rel="lightbox" href="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2025/03/AFP__20250309__36ZG98E__v1__HighRes__FilesUsIsraelPalestiniansConflictDiplomacy-e1742003427106.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="100%" height="auto" src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2025/03/AFP__20250309__36ZG98E__v1__HighRes__FilesUsIsraelPalestiniansConflictDiplomacy-e1742003427106-640x400.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="US hostage envoy Adam Boehler speaks during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington on March 6, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)" title="US hostage envoy Adam Boehler speaks during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington on March 6, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)"></a><div class="caption">US hostage envoy Adam Boehler speaks during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington on March 6, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)</div></div> <p>US President Donald Trump’s special envoy on hostages Adam Boehler will travel to Israel with the parents of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander ahead of the latter’s expected release from Hamas captivity, a US official tells The Times of Israel.</p>
<p>The Alexander family will soon travel from the US to Israel.</p>
<p>Earlier, Boehler said news of Alexander’s release was a positive step forward, adding: “We would also ask that Hamas release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken.”</p>
<div class="single-share"> <button type="button" class="single-share-wrap-btn">Share</button> </div> </div> </div> <div data-item="3546787" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/family-of-edan-alexander-was-completely-surprised-to-learn-of-his-impending-release/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/family-of-edan-alexander-was-completely-surprised-to-learn-of-his-impending-release/"><span data-timestamp="1747001970" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 01:19:30 +0300">1:19 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/family-of-edan-alexander-was-completely-surprised-to-learn-of-his-impending-release/">Family of Edan Alexander was ‘completely surprised’ to learn of his impending release</a></h4> <div class="media"><a rel="lightbox" href="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2025/05/AP25121603446887.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="100%" height="auto" src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2025/05/AP25121603446887-640x400.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Yael Alexander, left, and Adi Alexander, parents of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli being held hostage by Hamas, listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)" title="Yael Alexander, left, and Adi Alexander, parents of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli being held hostage by Hamas, listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)"></a><div class="caption">Yael Alexander, left, and Adi Alexander, parents of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli being held hostage by Hamas, listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)</div></div> <p>Adi Alexander, the father of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, says the US-based family was completely surprised to hear about his imminent release by Hamas after over 580 days in captivity in Gaza.</p>
<p>“The entire family is now on the way to Israel,” Adi is quoted as saying by the Ynet news site. “We were completely surprised to receive the call from [Steve] Witkoff. We knew about the negotiations but not about such a dramatic development.</p>
<p>“It’s very symbolic and moving to get this news exactly on Mother’s Day.”</p>
<div class="single-share"> <button type="button" class="single-share-wrap-btn">Share</button> </div> </div> </div> <div data-item="3546771" data-full_link="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/worlds-largest-wealth-fund-divests-from-israels-paz-retail-and-energy-due-to-west-bank-activities/"> <div class="liveblog-date"> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/worlds-largest-wealth-fund-divests-from-israels-paz-retail-and-energy-due-to-west-bank-activities/"><span data-timestamp="1746998888" title="Mon, 12 May 2025 00:28:08 +0300">12:28 am</span></a> </div> <div class="liveblog-paragraph"> <h4><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/worlds-largest-wealth-fund-divests-from-israels-paz-retail-and-energy-due-to-west-bank-activities/">World’s largest wealth fund divests from Israel’s Paz Retail and Energy due to West Bank activities</a></h4> <div class="byline">By <a title="Reuters" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/reuters/">Reuters</a></div> <p>Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, says it has sold all of its shares in Israel’s Paz Retail and Energy because it owns and operates infrastructure for the supply of fuel to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.</p>
<p>The divestment is the second after the fund’s ethics watchdog, the Council on Ethics, adopted in August a tougher interpretation of ethics standards for businesses that aid Israel’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza.</p>
<p>The first divestment was from Israeli telecoms firm Bezeq, in September.</p>
<p>The fund, which owns 1.5% of listed shares across 9,000 companies globally, operates under guidelines set by Norway’s parliament and is seen as a leader in the environmental, social and governance field.</p>
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Official says IDF will facilitate safe corridor to get hostage home * Parents heading to Israel from US * Trump: US-Hamas deal is part of push to return all captives, end the war{ai:summary}<p>Israeli officials claim that the imminent release of hostage Edan Alexander is a result of military pressure on Hamas, which they assert must make concessions to avoid escalating conflict. The release is set to occur without a ceasefire, and Israel will facilitate a safe corridor for Alexander's exit.</p><p>U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the release and expressed gratitude to those involved, framing it as part of broader efforts to secure the return of all hostages and end the ongoing war. The Alexander family was reportedly surprised by the news of their son's release after 580 days in captivity. #foreignaffairs</p>