The Israeli army is set to establish a safe corridor in Gaza along with a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in the enclave.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said the army will cease its airstrikes in Gaza and establish a safe corridor effective at 12 pm local time (09:00 GMT, Monday May 12) for the Israeli-American soldier’s release.
Israeli Channel 12 also reported that Israeli forces operating in Gaza were notified of a ceasefire for Alexander’s release.
The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, confirmed that it will release Alexander on Monday.
“The Qassam Brigades decided to release Zionist soldier Edan Alexander, who holds U.S. citizenship, today (Monday), May 12, 2025,” spokesman Abu Obaida said in a brief statement.
Alexander, a soldier who was serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border, is known to be the last remaining American hostage in Gaza who is still alive.
According to an Anadolu reporter, Israeli warplanes were absent from Gaza skies on Monday, with no reports of airstrikes or artillery shelling in the territory.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier that Israel made no further promises for a ceasefire or the release of Palestinian prisoners from its jails in exchange for Alexander.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office claimed that military pressure brought Hamas to accept the soldier’s release. Hamas said that Alexander’s release followed talks with the U.S. administration.
The anticipated release comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from Tuesday through Friday. The itinerary does not include a visit to Israel.
The trip comes amid reports of rising tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, including accusations that Trump has cut off direct communication over suspicions that the Israeli premier is manipulating the U.S. administration.
Hamas engaged directly with the United States in the negotiations, leaving Israel out of the process entirely.
For this reason, the Trump administration may have pressured Israel into accepting an agreement requiring it to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Hamas’ upcoming release of the soldier marks a “step taken in good faith” towards the U.S. and regional mediators, signalling that it might be the first of the “final steps” needed to end Israel’s war.
According to Hamas, the soldier’s release would be among several steps aimed at facilitating a ceasefire, reopening border crossings, and allowing humanitarian aid and relief supplies into the Gaza Strip.
More than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
The recent developments in the agreements point to Washington’s frustration with Israel, whose actions have harmed the reputations of both nations and fuelled increasing public anger.
