The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Witkov had arrived in Israel, while no official announcement had been made by Hamas or the United States regarding the date of the soldier's release or the mechanism for his extradition as of Monday morning.
Maariv newspaper reported that Witkov will hold meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. Channel 12 reported that US Presidential Envoy Adam Boehler will later arrive in Israel accompanied by the parents of soldier Alexander.
The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced its intention to release soldier Alexander today, following contacts with the US administration as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
In the same context, the families of Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip called on Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Monday to use the next 24 hours to reach a comprehensive agreement to return their loved ones.
The call came in a post on the X platform ahead of the expected release of Israeli-American soldier Idan Alexander by Hamas through a separate agreement with the United States. The families stated, "We are in critical times in which the government's commitment to its citizens will be tested," adding, "The government must use the next 24 hours to achieve a breakthrough and reach a comprehensive agreement."
The families criticized the Israeli government, saying that "the expected release of Idan shows that there is a firm leader committed to his citizens," referring to US President Donald Trump. They addressed the question to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Mr. Prime Minister, what is your commitment to the remaining 58 abductees?"
The families made a crucial call: "Will you choose to make history and bring everyone back? Or will you continue to stall, buy time, and evade responsibility at the expense of causing grave harm to the abductees and preventing the ability to bring back the dead?"
Tel Aviv estimates that there are 59 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, 21 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 9,900 Palestinians are languishing in Israeli prisons, suffering from torture and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
