Former hostage Edan Alexander, 21, announced yesterday his intention to return to active duty with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after being held captive by Hamas for 584 days. Alexander, who was taken captive on October 7th, expressed his gratitude to President Trump and the administration for securing his release. In his first public address, shared via social media, Alexander stated, "My story does not end with survival - it continues with service." He plans to return to Israel next month to rejoin the IDF. Alexander detailed his experience in captivity, describing it as "days of struggle, pain, and separation from my family." Thousands of tents and tarpaulins continue to be facilitated by Israel for distribution to Gazans at the Kerem Shalom crossing, with over 24,000 tents having entered Gaza recently to aid displaced families. Separately, Mustafa Ayash, founder of the Hamas-linked Gaza Now channel, was arrested at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands and is facing transfer to Austrian authorities for alleged fundraising for Hamas. A child was reportedly killed in a bombing in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, and another bomb was reported in Gaza City. In the West Bank, IDF forces, in collaboration with the UAE's "sabotage unit," destroyed weapons in the Ramallah area, including rockets, chargers, explosives, and sabotage materials. A protest in Tamra, Israel, occurred in support of Gaza, condemning actions described as starvation and genocide.
