War Day 584: Hostage Released, Netanyahu Promises Negotiations Only Under Fire

Summary May 12, 2025

Released hostage was given food fit for human consumption only two months before being freed, President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan and his family to fly there to meet them, Netanyahu promises wounded soldiers that the IDF will go until the end, retake Gaza, Houthis fire at Israel, miss Saudi Arabia, Houthis down American drone, US Secretary of State adds Iran sanctions, and Trump says Iran negotiating reasonably.

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:

– Edan is free, walking on two feet
– Edan was tortured and starved by Hamas, but was given food in the two months before he was freed
– President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan and his family to fly there to meet them
– Witkoff pressuring Israel to make an agreement with Hamas, delay operations of necessary
– Netanyahu sends a delegation to negotiate, but says only under fire
– Battles continued in Gaza, brief pause over Khan Younis area for Edan’s secure release
– Netanyahu promises wounded soldiers that the IDF will go until the end, retake Gaza
– Foundation to distribute aid the the new Gaza humanitarian zone has already begun work
– Houthis fire at Israel, miss Saudi Arabia
– Houthis down American drone
– US Secretary of State adds Iran sanctions, says they’re expanding nuclear activity
– Trump says Iran negotiating intelligently and reasonably.

Hostages:

Around 7:40 p.m., Edan Alexander crossed the border back into Israel. Shortly after, he was wrapped in the arms of his mother for the long awaited hug. After that he was embraced by his father and siblings, and later met the rest of his family, including his grandmother, at the hospital.

Edan’s grandmother, affectionately known as Savta Varda, told media that it’s no coincidence that he was freed today. Today was Pesach Sheni (Second Passover), a holiday which marks a second chance for those who didn’t get to celebrate the holiday of redemption a month ago.

Savta Varda fought fiercely for her grandson’s release, traveling and speaking everywhere. She kept a Torah scroll in his bedroom and kissed it every day, pledging her faith that Idan would come home. She kept her freezer stocked with all of his favorite foods, and cooked some fresh this morning to bring to him.

Edan was able to walk on his own two feet, but is not in great health condition, and suffered severe trauma. In the photos of his release, his arms can be seen covered in fresh wounds and scars.

(Skip this paragraph if you are sensitive) Edan shared that for most of his captivity he was held in a small cage, with his hands and feet tied up. He was starved and only rarely given food which wasn’t fit for human consumption, until the last couple of months when Hamas realized they might be freeing him soon. He was also brutally interrogated and severely tortured, sometimes to the brink of life.

Still, Edan stood strong, spoke clearly, and even joked around with his family, bringing them to laugh.

The family of Edan Alexander family released a statement saying that President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan to meet them in Qatar, but it will be subject to Edan’s wishes and his medical condition.

If he does fly to Qatar (the financiers and enablers of his monster captors), it would have to be on either Wednesday or Thursday, before Trump departs.

Prime Minister Netanyahu met today with American Envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee. According to senior Israeli officials, Witkoff urged Netanyahu to use the window of opportunity in the next few days to reach a hostage-ceasefire deal—and hold off expanding operations in Gaza if necessary to do so.

In a statement, Netanyahu wrote: “In my meeting with Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee, we discussed the last-ditch effort to implement the outline for the release of the hostages presented by Witkoff, before the fighting escalates. To this end, I have instructed that a negotiating delegation be sent to Doha tomorrow.”

Netanyahu added, “I made it clear that negotiations would only take place under fire.”

Hamas is currently under fire at the moment. Stating that negotiations will only take place under fire does not rule out holding back the expansion of the war in Gaza, for Operation Gideon’s Chariots. However, in statements issued earlier in the day, Netanyahu did make it clear that the operational plans were still on.

Gaza:

The Israeli Air Force halted airstrikes, and all activity in the area of Khan Younis (Southern Gaza) was paused from the morning until Edan reached Israel. Hamas took advantage of the semi-ceasefire, and delayed Edan’s release by several hours in order to extend it.

Air Strikes resumed immediately after Edan’s return.

Activity was not halted in other parts of Gaza. In the Shejaya neighborhood of Gaza City, an exchange of fire took place between IDF soldiers and Hamas terrorists. One soldier was lightly injured, and evacuated to a hospital.

Thousands of IDF soldiers, including reservists, are training and preparing to enter Gaza, destroy Hamas, and free the hostages, if the deadline of May 16th passes. The plan includes completely retaking control of Gaza. Some are nervous that the plan may be paused or not fully completed, if a bad deal is forced on Israel.

In a meeting today, Netanyahu reassured representatives of the War Injured Forum: “We retake Gaza and our security control will remain there forever. There will be no Islamic caliphate in Gaza, neither of Hamas nor of the Palestinian Authority. A decision has been made to go to the end.”

Itay Blumenthal, an IDF correspondent, says that staffers of the American foundation which will be distributing the aid in Gaza, has already entered the future secure humanitarian zone in Rafah, and has begin preliminary preparations.

Judea & Samaria:

The Palestinian Authority suddenly removed its ban on Al Jazeera in areas under their control.

Syria:

Earlier today, Trump told media: “I expect all sanctions on Syria to be lifted. Erdogan and other regional leaders have requested this, and we will make a decision soon.”

Yemen:

A ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen, and aimed at Israel, fell short near Saudi Arabia.

Houthi media claims that the Houthis just downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Saadah governorate, Yemen. Trump said that the Houthis promised not to attack U.S. ships at sea. It appears that the Houthis didn’t include U.S. drones over land in their promise.

Iran:

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced additional sanctions to Iran, specifically to three Iranian nationals and one entity with ties to Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, which is leading the development of nuclear weapons.

In a statement, Rubio explained that Iran has been expanding their nuclear program at a concerning rate:

“Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems.

“Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that is producing uranium enriched to 60%, and it continues to use front companies and procurement agents to obscure its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers.”

Meanwhile, today Trump described the talks with Iran to be going well, and said that Iran is acting very intelligent and reasonable.