The White House announced that it negotiated directly with Hamas for the release of Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023.
Israel was reportedly not a party to the negotiations because U.S. diplomats continue to be frustrated with Israel’s lack of commitment to ending the war. President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly said this: “We want the detainees returned, but Israel doesn’t want to end the war.”
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of his plan to continue to “destroy” the Gaza Strip but the problem, as he sees it, is that not enough host countries will take the displaced civilians.
“We are destroying more and more homes, and Gazans have nowhere to return to. The only inevitable outcome will be the wish of Gazans to emigrate outside of the Gaza Strip,” he said. He also reiterated that Israel will not allow aid into Gaza since Gazans are reportedly “mixing with Hamas terrorists.” Even children?
President Trump is heading to the Middle East this week to meet with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Syria and Lebanon. He may discuss a plan for the Gaza Strip which could include a plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
