The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
Israeli official: Hostage’s release secured thanks to military pressure on Hamas
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
Edan Alexander to be released on Monday, senior US official says
American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander will be released on Monday, a senior US official tells The Times of Israel.
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.
Trump welcomes deal to free US-Israeli hostage, says it’s part of push to return everyone, end the war
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.
“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.
“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!”
US hostage envoy Boehler to head to Israel alongside parents of Edan Alexander
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.
The Alexander family will soon travel from the US to Israel.
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.”
Family of Edan Alexander was ‘completely surprised’ to learn of his impending release
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.
“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.
“It’s very symbolic and moving to get this news exactly on Mother’s Day.”
World’s largest wealth fund divests from Israel’s Paz Retail and Energy due to West Bank activities
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.
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.
The first divestment was from Israeli telecoms firm Bezeq, in September.
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.