Morning update
Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,
Here are some of the latest updates on Gaza and across the region:
-
Israel’s attacks on Sunday killed at least 40 people in Gaza, according to medical sources. Al Jazeera reported that at least 16 people, including a child, have been killed since the early hours of Monday morning.
-
Hamas has confirmed that it will be releasing the Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander as an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks in the war-torn enclave.
-
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel did not commit to any ceasefire or Palestinian prisoners' release with Hamas, but only to a safe corridor that would allow Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander's release, a statement from Netanyahu's office said early on Monday.
Netanyahu said negotiations for a possible deal would continue "under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting."
-
US captives envoy Adam Boehler said in a post on X that he is travelling with Alexander’s mother, Yael, for her reunion with her son.
-
In a post on his social media site, Truth Social, Trump hailed the efforts of mediators Qatar and Egypt and said Alexander’s release was a “step taken in good faith towards the United States” to “put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones”.
-
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel fully endorses Trump’s plan to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.