On Monday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the emotional return of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who had been held in Gaza. In a heartfelt statement, Netanyahu said, “This is a very emotional moment – Edan Alexander has returned home. We embrace him and we embrace his family.” The Prime Minister attributed Alexander’s release to a combination of military and diplomatic efforts, specifically highlighting the role of U.S. President Donald Trump. “This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination,” Netanyahu stated. He revealed that he spoke with Trump earlier in the day, noting, “I spoke with President Trump today. He told me ‘I am committed to Israel. I am committed to continuing to work with you in close cooperation’ – in order to achieve all of our war objectives: Releasing all of the hostages, and defeating Hamas.” Netanyahu emphasized the interconnected nature of these goals, adding, “This goes together. They are combined with each other.” The release of Edan Alexander marks a significant step in Israel’s ongoing efforts to secure the return of all hostages and achieve its broader military objectives in the conflict with Hamas. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)