Israel signals resumption of Gaza genocide after Israeli American captive's release

The Israeli military will resume its genocide in the Gaza Strip as soon as Edan Alexander, an Israeli American hostage released through US mediation, arrives in Israel, local media reported Monday.

“The moment Edan is on Israeli soil, we will resume attacks and continue the operational plan unless the political leadership decides otherwise,” Channel 14 quoted an unnamed senior Israeli military official as saying.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army announced on X that the Red Cross had informed it of Alexander's handover, and he was en route to Israeli forces in Gaza.

Alexander, a soldier who was serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border who holds dual Israeli US citizenship, was released following negotiations led by US President Donald Trump's administration with the Palestinian group Hamas through mediators excluding Israel.

Hamas confirmed that it “released the soldier with US citizenship, Edan Alexander, following contacts with Washington as part of ceasefire efforts in Gaza.”

The release stemmed from talks between Hamas and the US facilitated by Egypt and Qatar without Israeli participation.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Monday that an Israeli delegation would travel to Doha on Tuesday. However, it emphasized that “negotiations will only take place under fire,” signaling an intent to resume the genocide after Alexander's return.

The decision followed a meeting with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, including a phone call with Trump.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily, Netanyahu and Witkoff agreed that the Israeli team would remain in Doha until at least Thursday, coinciding with Trump's planned visit to the Qatari capital.

Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates between May 13 and 16 -- his first trip to the region since beginning his second term in January.

Israel estimates that 58 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, including 21 who are still alive.

Meanwhile, more than 9,900 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, where they face torture, starvation and medical neglect—conditions that have led to multiple deaths, according to reports by Palestinian and Israeli media and human rights organizations.

Nearly 52,900 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 Defense 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.