Israeli-American Hostage Could Be Taken To Qatar To Meet Trump After Release From Hamas Captivity

Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander could fly to Qatar later this week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump should his physical and mental condition allow it, Israeli media reported on Monday.

Alexander, the last living hostage with American citizenship, is set to be released by Hamas on Monday. His parents are already in southern Israel to meet with him. Local outlet Channel 12 detailed that the plan is for Edan and his family to travel to Qatar on Wednesday or Thursday and meet with the country's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Trump.

Local outlets were quick to point out that Qatar also hosts Hamas' political leadership outside Gaza and the West Bank. "In other words, the hostage is going to meet the man who financed his kidnappers," said Channel 12's political analyst, Amit Segal.

Trump welcomed the news on Sunday, saying in a post on Truth Social that the release 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. Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict." The statement notably omits Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who different outlets say is being increasingly sidelined by Trump.

Israel said it would guarantee safe passage for Alexander but said negotiations for a full ceasefire "will continue under fire and alongside preparations to intensify the fighting." Hamas, however, said last week that there is no point in negotiating a ceasefire with Israel after its cabinet approved plans to capture the entire enclave and remain there indefinitely.

Speaking to the BBC, senior official Bassem Naim said the group would not engage with any new proposals while Israel continued its "starvation war," in reference to the decision not to let enter any more aid over two months ago. Widespread hunger is being reported in Gaza and looting has increased as people scramble to find sustenance.

Israel anticipated it will begin carrying out its plan if there is no agreement by the time U.S. President Donald Trump ends a visit to the region on May 16. Asides from Qatar, Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He will not travel to Israel.