Diplomatic officials have established a humanitarian corridor with a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the extraction of Edan Alexander, confirming for the first time the use of direct negotiations with Hamas through the previously opposed negotiations channel between Hamas and the Trump administration, Israel Hayom has learned.
Israeli officials stated Monday that while they cannot yet confirm exactly when hostage Edan Alexander will be released, they have already established a humanitarian corridor featuring both a ceasefire and a pause in intelligence collection activities to facilitate his extraction from Gaza. In an unprecedented disclosure, an Israeli source has confirmed that Alexander's release was negotiated through the channel used between Hamas and President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler – marking the first instance of direct negotiations with Hamas rather than working through intermediaries. Despite Israel's historical reluctance to utilize this channel, it ultimately proved crucial in securing Alexander's release.
Concurrently, Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning. He is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team – including National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi and hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch – during the afternoon hours to discuss the Witkoff framework for continued hostage releases. This reflects Israel's assessment that any emerging deal would follow the pattern seen in previous negotiations – beginning with Alexander's release before progressing to the broader Witkoff framework, which prioritizes freeing half of the living and deceased hostages in its initial phase.
Should negotiations advance toward a comprehensive agreement, military officials indicate Operation Gideon's Chariots will be delayed to maximize hostage recovery opportunities. Based on statements from security and political figures last week, Hamas apparently recognizes this represents their final opportunity for negotiation.
On the matter of reciprocation, a substantial divide persists between the parties. While Hamas continues to advocate for a comprehensive agreement including war termination, Israeli authorities are focusing on implementing the Witkoff framework. This fundamental disparity creates significant challenges that Witkoff must navigate, raising questions about which side will ultimately make greater concessions. Though Israeli officials maintain that Alexander's release required no Israeli concessions, this claim has been met with skepticism among certain Israeli officials participating in discussions, creating heightened vigilance to understand what the actual price might eventually be.
