Freed Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander returns to Israel from Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in a press release that the nation “embraces” Alexander. He pressured that the Israeli authorities “is dedicated to the return of all hostages and lacking individuals — each the dwelling and the fallen,” vowing to “act tirelessly till they’re all introduced dwelling.”
Israeli well being ministry spokeswoman Shira Solomon mentioned Alexander was present process an preliminary medical evaluation on the reception facility in Re’im base and would later be transferred to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.
“Medical groups and workers on the hospital are well-prepared to offer all crucial medical, psychological, and rehabilitative look after Alexander, in addition to help for his household and some other wants which will come up,” Solomon mentioned in a press release.
In Hostages Sq., a public plaza positioned in entrance of the Tel Aviv Museum of Artwork and renamed following the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 assault, a whole lot gathered to observe Alexander’s return on massive screens. They held up photographs of the freed hostage and indicators studying: “Solely an finish to the warfare in Gaza would safe the discharge of the remaining hostages.”
Hamas sources earlier confirmed that Alexander was handed over to a workforce from the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross at a delegated location in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis metropolis. He was then transferred to the buffer zone managed by the Israeli military earlier than heading to the Re’im army base.
Eyewitnesses in Khan Younis reported that Israeli army actions within the space have been halted earlier than and in the course of the launch, and the ambiance remained comparatively calm.
In a press assertion, Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, mentioned Alexander was launched as a part of the efforts made by mediators to realize a ceasefire, open the crossings, and permit assist and aid to succeed in Gaza.
Alexander is a US-born soldier serving within the Israeli military. He was kidnapped on 7 October 2023, within the Hamas-led raid on southern Israel that resulted within the kidnapping of 251 folks and the killing of about 1,200 others.
His return marks an necessary step towards a brand new spherical of negotiations on a Gaza truce deal that can, after the return of Alexander, additionally safe the discharge of the remaining 58 hostages in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. The negotiations are anticipated to start on Tuesday with mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the US. Netanyahu’s workplace introduced that an Israeli delegation will journey to Doha for talks, however pressured that the talks would happen “solely underneath fireplace.”
Since October 2023, Israeli fireplace has killed 52,862 Palestinians and injured 119,648 others in Gaza, in line with native well being authorities on Monday.
