PM Netanyahu sends negotiation team to Qatar after release of IDF soldier but warns: Talks only ‘under fire’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israel’s negotiation team to return to Qatar on Tuesday to continue negotiations with Hamas following the agreement to free dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and IDF soldier, Edan Alexander.

Alexander was released on Monday evening after 584 days in captivity, in what Hamas described as a “gesture” to U.S. President Donald Trump.

On Monday, Netanyahu met with the White House Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

“The Prime Minister then spoke with US President Donald Trump and thanked him for the assistance in the release of IDF soldier Edan Alexander. US President Trump, for his part, reiterated his commitment to Israel as well as his desire to continue the close cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Netanyahu was also said to have discussed the efforts to implement the “Witkoff outline” for a broad hostage deal, “before the expansion of the fighting,” which Israel says will commence after Trump’s Middle East trip this week.

“To this end, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed that a negotiations team leave for Doha tomorrow. The Prime Minister made it clear that the negotiations would only take place under fire,” the PMO added.

Accordingly, an Israeli source told i24 News after the release: “As soon as Idan Alexander returns to Israel – Israel will return to fighting in Gaza.”

Earlier on Monday, Trump told reporters: “We hope that we’re going to have other hostages released.”

Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed the release in an official statement, saying this came “as part of the efforts being made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach our people in the Gaza Strip.”

Boasting about its “positivity and high flexibility” in the talks, the terror group went on to threaten the remaining 58 Israeli hostages: “We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations achieve results in the release of prisoners. Continuing the aggression, however, prolongs their suffering and may even kill them.”

Hamas reiterated that it continues to seek “a comprehensive, sustainable ceasefire agreement, the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the blockade, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.”