The Atlantic May 13, 2025

Trump Sides With the Israeli People Against Netanyahu.
Most Israelis want to end the war, but their prime minister does not.

Today, Hamas freed Edan Alexander, its sole remaining living American hostage.

The release was the result of a back-channel dialogue between the United States and the terrorist group ahead of Donald Trump’s arrival in the region this week.

Announcing the news on social media, the president heralded the event not as a one-off, but as a step “to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”

Israel was not involved in the process and, according to Axios, found out about the negotiations only through its intelligence services.
Some reports have cast this disconnect as indicative of a chasm between Trump and Israel. But this is a misreading.

The divide is not between the president and Israel so much as between the president and Israel’s leader.
Most Israelis support what Trump is doing — and oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza.

This dynamic was evident from an emotional moment that took place in mid-air.
Earlier today, Adam Boehler, Trump’s special envoy for hostage response, flew to Israel with Alexander’s mother in advance of her son’s release.

In an unusual move, Boehler addressed the commercial flight over the intercom
“President Trump, when he told me to go get back every hostage, every Israeli, he wasn’t kidding,”

Boehler told the passengers
“And I want you to know that this is the start. We’re going after every single hostage that there exists in all of Israel.
We’re coming for them all, because the bond of Israel and the bond of the United States has never been stronger.”

The people on the plane applauded.