War Day 583: Hostage to Be Released Monday, Trump Accepts Major Gift from Qatar

War Summary, Day 583: Eden Alexander to be released on Monday afternoon as a ‘gift’ from Hamas, paratroopers and Nachal brigades preparing to move to Gaza, 75,000 liters of fuel leaked to Gaza, Eden’s release is supposed to launch negotiations for a wider deal, body of IDF soldier missing in Syria for 40 years finally returned by Mossad, Israel strikes Houthi ports, the ICC prosecutor targeted Netanyahu to cover his own crimes, and Trump’s accepting huge gift from Qatar.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,838 Israelis killed.
422 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,720 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
10,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Eden Alexander to be released on Monday afternoon
– More bodies of American-Israeli hostages may be released
– US claims there is no exchange for his release
– Eden’s release is supposed to launch negotiations for a wider deal
– Israel will not halt war for negotiations, giving Hamas a sharp 4-day deadline
– Negotiations surround the Witkoff Framework
– Hamas is expecting a gift in return for Eden’s release
– Trump admin changes tone, ties hostage release to Israel ending war
– Paratroopers and Nachal brigades preparing to move to Gaza.
– 75,000 liters of fuel leaked to Gaza
– Netanyahu ties security of Israel to full security control of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza
– Released terrorists rearrested for returning to violent terrorism
– Body of IDF soldier missing in Syria for 40 years finally returned by Mossad
– Israel strikes Houthi ports
– U.S. & Iran report that talks went well
– WSJ: ICC prosecutor targeted Netanyahu to cover his own crimes
– Trump accepting huge gift from Qatar

Hostages:

Following an agreement with the U.S., Hamas will be releasing American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander tomorrow around 12 noon, thank G-d! Coordination with the Red Cross is ongoing, to secure a safe corridor for his release.

U.S. hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, says that efforts are also underway to secure the release of the bodies of four murdered hostages who held American citizenship: Omer Neutra, Itai Chen, Judy Weinstein-Hagi, and her husband Gadi Hagi.

Israel played no part in these negotiations.

In a written statement, PM Netanyahu gave a few important background details:

– The U.S. says that Edan Alexander’s release will be a gesture to the Americans, without any conditions, or receiving anything in exchange.
– The U.S. told Israel that Eden’s release is supposed to lead to negotiations for the release of further hostages.
– The negotiations will revolve around the original Witkoff framework, which Israel already accepted.
Israel is preparing for the possibility that this will be implemented.
– Israel’s policy is that the negotiations will be held under fire (the war will continue as is, in the planned timeline).
– Negotiations will be based on the commitment to achieve all the objectives of the war (which includes the defeat of Hamas).

Israeli officials gave more details to Channel 14, clarifying further:

– It was always expected that negotiations would open with the release of Edan, as a goodwill gesture to the U.S.
– Hamas backed down from their demand to end the war as part of a hostage agreement, in a last minute attempt to halt the upcoming Operation Gideon’s Chariots, in which the IDF will retake all of Gaza.
– The timeline will continue: If Hamas doesn’t agree to the Witkoff framework and release ten or eleven hostages before May 16th, Operation Gideon’s Chariots will begin.
– Israel will enter negotiations if Hamas shows that they’re serious, and negotiate reasonably over the release of terrorists and provision of limited humanitarian aid to Gaza.

A quick reminder of the basic Witkoff Framework:

– The first phase will be a 45-day ceasefire.
– On day one, Hamas will release ten to eleven living hostages, followed by additional deceased hostages.
– Terrorists will be released in exchange for the hostages.
– Humanitarian aid will be delivered directly to the civilians in Gaza, and Hamas will not handle it (unclear how this will be enforced).
– Israel will demand assurances that the remaining living hostages receive food and medical care.
– During the first phase, negotiations will be held for the second.
– The second phase will release all the hostages, and bring about a complete ceasefire.
Israel will only agree to the second phase if Hamas completely disarms, and its leaders are exiled from Gaza.

While the U.S. and Israel are insisting that Edan’s release comes with nothing in exchange, Hamas is telling a different story. A senior Hamas official told AP that the mediators (aka Qatar) told them that if they give a gift to Trump, Trump will give a bigger gift in return.

This might already be true. For the first time, Trump tied the release of the remaining hostages to an end to the war. Until now, he only called for their release unconditionally. But today’s statement had a different tone, and read, “This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”

According to a Sunday evening report on Channel 12, Trump’s MidEast envoy, Steve Witkoff, also changed his tone, and is now blaming Israel for refusing to end the war. Witnesses who were present allege that a meeting with hostage families, Witkoff told them:
“We want to bring the hostages home, but Israel is not willing to end the war. Israel is prolonging it despite the fact that we don’t see where else we can go and that an agreement must be reached.”

Moving ahead, even if it is true that Hamas is prepared to give up on the demand that the IDF end the war and completely withdraw from Gaza, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) doesn’t seem to align with that. The PIJ’s deputy leader, Dr. Muhammad al-Hindi, told Arab media that no more hostages will be released unless the U.S. forces Israel into a full ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza.

For now, the countdown is on: four days for either a hostage-ceasefire agreement to begin, or Gideon’s Chariot’s to retake Gaza.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes! No rockets either.

Through Sunday, the IDF struck over 50 terror targets across Gaza, including terrorist cells, military buildings, and operational apartments from which terrorists operated to carry out terrorist acts against IDF forces.

Division 252 is still operating in Northern Gaza; the Gaza Division (143) in Southern Gaza, and Division 36 in parts of Rafah and the Morag Corridor.

The Paratroopers Brigade just wrapped up operations in Syria, and is now preparing to join Division 98 for a maneuver in Gaza. The Nachal Brigade wrapped up in Judea and Samaria, and is beginning preparations to join Division 162 as part of the new Operation Gideon’s Chariots. Both brigades current positions will be replaced by reservists.

Amir Bohbot of Wallah news reports that last week 75,000 liters of fuel was delivered to Gaza—but no one in the Israeli government is taking responsibility for approving it, or seems to even know about it. (This is not surprising. Aid is leaking into Gaza, directly to Hamas, while soldiers are being told to turn a blind eye.)

Judea & Samaria:

In a meeting today with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, PM Netanyahu is quoted saying, “I don’t see a situation where we won’t have complete security control in Gaza and Judea and Samaria—from the Jordan River to the sea, up to Rafah.”

The State Prosecutor’s Office has filed indictments against 11 individuals today, including Rada Abid, a terrorist who was released in the last hostage deal. The offenses include rioting in support of terrorists, while throwing explosives at police, IDF soldiers, and Israeli civilians. Or, in legal terms: severe property damage, terrorism-related arson, use of weapons for terrorist purposes, aiding terrorism, rioting, obstructing law enforcement under aggravated circumstances, and attempted assault of a police officer.

Syria:

In a complex and secret operation led by the IDF and Mossad, the body of Sgt. First Class Zvi (Zvika) Feldman, missing for over 40 years, was recovered deep inside Syria and returned to Israel.

The mission, carried out by undercover Mossad agents (some who were not even Israeli) operating in Syria for years, became possible after the fall of the Assad regime enabled new breakthroughs. The agents repeatedly visited and searched a graveyard under dangerous conditions, eventually retrieving remains that matched Feldman’s DNA. The operation marked the culmination of decades of intelligence work and follows a similar mission that recovered the remains of soldier Zacharias Baumel in 2019.

Yemen:

On Sunday evening, the IDF issued urgent evacuation warnings for three Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen: the Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif ports on the western coast.

The Houthis did not relate the warnings to civilians, and instead issued strict instructions banning any filming or reporting of airstrikes.

Later, media reported around 10 airstrikes at Ras Issa, including against Iranian facilities. But no more information was reported.

The IDF has not yet shared an update of the strikes.

Iran:

The fourth round of nuclear negotiations took place between the U.S. and Iran today, mediated by Oman. The talks did not collapse, and on the contrary, were reported to have gone well.

A senior U.S. official told Axios: “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future.”

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi told media that the talks were more serious than previous ones, with progress on key issues. He added that he expects the next round to go ahead in about a week.

Oman’s Foreign Minister announced: “We completed another round of talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat today. The discussions included useful and original ideas reflecting a shared wish to reach an honorable agreement. The 5th round of talks will take place once both parties have consulted with their leaderships.”

Other:

— The Wall Street Journal released an expose on the ICC’s prosecutor. Accordingly, the ICC prosecutor’s surprise decision to pursue Netanyahu for war crimes was announced just after the prosecutor was accused of r**e and assault.

— In a less usual statement at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting today, PM Netanyahu said, “I think we will need to wean ourselves off American military aid.”

Israel currently receives around 4 billion in military aid from the U.S. Up until the 1990s, Israel used to receive civilian aid as well. Back then, Netanyahu cancelled the civilian aid, stating that it would lead Israel to economic growth—which did indeed follow. Netanyahu says that the same policy os needed today, to strengthen Israel’s military.

At the same committee meeting, Netanyahu said that talk in the media about a rift between him and Trump was false, and just being spread for political reasons. He added that Israel “didn’t ask for permission to attack the Houthis, and we’re not asking for permission for our war plans in Gaza. The Americans volunteered to get involved with the Houthis and said they would leave when it ‘stops.’”

— U.S. President Trump confirmed that he is preparing to accept a gift of a luxury Boeing 747-800 plane as a donation from the Qatari royal family. The plane, known to be a palace in the sky, is worth $400 million, and will be upgraded to serve as Air Force One.

Israelis are shocked and concerned, for several reasons:

– Qatar is Hamas’s number one sponsor, hosts Hamas leaders, and encourages Hamas not to return the hostages.
– Just today, Hamas quoted Qatar telling them that “if they give a gift to Trump, Trump will give a bigger gift in return.”
– The contrast in Israel is shocking. Israeli law does not allow a public servant to accept any gift which exceeds the value of 85 shekels, or approximately $23 USD.