U.S. President Donald Trump begins a high-stakes 3-day visit to the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, marking his first regional tour since taking office in January. Amid the ongoing Gaza war,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.

Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, was released on Monday after successful negotiations between the U.S. and the terrorist organization, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The American dual national Edan Alexander has been handed over by Hamas more than 19 months after he was taken hostage.

Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas and reunited with his family on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group’s October 7 attack.

The freeing of Edan Alexander was a wonderful instance of US and Israeli interests overlapping. But Netanyahu was sidelined, and there is daylight between the two leaderships on a widening number of key issues,

The American president begins his regional tour with Saudi Arabia before heading to Qatar and the Emirates, but will not travel to Israel

Hamas released Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, on Monday ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the region this week. The group called it a goodwill gesture aimed at reviving mediated efforts to end the 19-month war. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.

Hamas thanked Türkiye for playing the role of facilitator for a cease-fire in Gaza as the conflict rages on, diplomatic sources said on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.

His comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to US President Donald Trump,