The Government of Israel embraces IDF Staff-Sgt. Edan Alexander, who has been returned from being held hostage by Hamas.

His family has been updated by the responsible authorities that he is with our forces.

»

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 12, 2025

JUST IN: Israel media reports that released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has refused to meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu

— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) May 12, 2025

NO PR MOMENT FOR WAR CRIMINAL NETANYAHU

Hasbara is a dead language

Edan Alexander speaks with President Trump

Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler meet Alexander at Tel Aviv's Ichilov Medical Center, Witkoff praises his resilience and reaffirms US commitment to bring all hostages home.

Edan Alexander and Witkoff speak with Trump

US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and US Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler visited released American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Tuesday morning at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

During the visit, Alexander spoke with US President Donald Trump on Witkoff's phone.

"After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience. His return gives hope to so many," Witkoff wrote on social media.

He added: "We remain committed to bringing every last hostage home."

Witkoff and Boehler are expected to visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and meet the families of hostages.

Hasbara is a dead language

'A stern message': how return of Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiations | Haaretz/The Guardian - 11 Jan. 2025 |

US Middle East envoy chosen by the president-elect, Donald Trump, met the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sabbath amid efforts to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.

PM, Smotrich Claim Military Pressure Was Key

As Edan Alexander freed, opposition chiefs accuse PM of bungling ties with Washington | TOI |

The 'Americans are fed up with Netanyahu,' says Lapid, while Golan asserts release of hostage lone   soldier due to US intervention constitutes an Israeli 'national failure'

Analysis: What American hostage's release says about US-Israel relations

Hasbara is a dead language

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Top U.S. & World Headlines -- | Democracy Now - May 12, 2025 |

Hasbara is a dead language

We rejoice at the news of this happy reunion between Edan and his family. Grateful for President Trump's efforts to secure the return of Americans held hostage. Our hearts are with those who remain in captivity. #BringThemHomeNow [_link]

— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) May 12, 2025

Hasbara is a dead language

US Iran envoy on reviving the JCPOA: "Right now it's not even on the agenda, it's not the focus" [_link]

— drdivine (@drdivine) October 18, 2022

Hasbara is a dead language

A new Israeli report has revealed that Biden administration officials admitted they never pressured Israel to end its genocide in Gaza. [_link]

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 28, 2025

Hasbara is a dead language

Biden never pressured Israel for Ceasefire, as Israeli Officials boast of exploiting US Support [_link]

— Juan Cole (@jricole) May 1, 2025

Hasbara is a dead language

#BREAKING: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says efforts are underway to discourage their NATO ally Turkey from escalating its offensive against the Kurdish-led SDF in Syria.

He emphasized that "foreign terrorist fighters" should leave the country. pic.twitter.com/vuZlEpgNif

— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) January 8, 2025

Hasbara is a dead language

France will reaffirm its support for the SDF and its fight against terrorism at the Syria Conference in Paris on February 13, Elysee Palace said. pic.twitter.com/Lr4PGxW31M

— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) January 31, 2025

Macron, President Barzani discuss Kurdish rights in Syria

Hasbara is a dead language

"A Key Step Toward Renouncing Violence,' Says Iran on PKK Disarmament Call | Kurdistan24 |

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - In a diplomatic statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has welcomed the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s recent decision to disarm and disband, describing it as a "key step toward renouncing violence" and reinforcing stability across the region.

According to remarks reported by Iranian media, Baghaei affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran "welcomes any process that would stop acts of terrorism and strengthen security in the neighboring country of Türkiye." Tehran's endorsement follows a sweeping announcement by the PKK earlier this week that it would dissolve its organizational structure and end its decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Hasbara is a dead language

Trump's View of Syria: How It Evolved, in 19 Tweets | NY Times - 7 April 2017 |

WASHINGTON -- Donald J. Trump had a blunt warning for his predecessor.

"We should stay the hell out of Syria," he wrote on Twitter in June 2013, after President Barack Obama directed American forces to increase support to Syrian rebels in the wake of a deadly chemical weapons attack by that country's government.

We should stay the hell out of Syria, the "rebels" are just as bad as the current regime. WHAT WILL WE GET FOR OUR LIVES AND $ BILLIONS?ZERO

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2013

To understand the magnitude of Mr. Trump's reversal and the history of his public stances on one of the world's bloodiest civil wars, one need look no further than the president's Twitter account.

Mr. Trump posted dozens of tweets about the conflict in the years before he declared his candidacy for the White House, and frequently did so during the campaign as well. Channeling the same bluntness that helped fuel his political rise, he carved out a staunchly noninterventionist stance on the conflict and criticized as plodding Mr. Obama's approach.

But he also made one thing clear: If he was in charge, any action would be swift and secretive to catch Mr. Assad off guard.

Hasbara is a dead language

[...]
Later, the US government continued indirect communication with al-Sharaa to emphasize the need to avoid terrorism or opposing US counterterrorism operations in Idlib.
 
■ If you were asked to diagnose the roles of the US, Turkey, Arab countries, Israel, Iran, and Europeans in Syria, how would you assess each of them as a former US envoy to Syria?

The US: A potentially key player in Syria based on sanctions imposed and ground forces. However, it has not yet developed a coherent policy towards Syria, and until it does, Syria will remain at risk.

Turkey: The most active player at the moment, given Ankara's role in overthrowing Assad, its relations with Damascus, economic and military support, ground forces, and major security concerns starting with the PKK/SDF. Turkey has played a good role so far, but the danger lies in overreaching, leading to conflict with Israel or the Syrian Democratic Forces, undermining international unity and reducing chances for a positive outcome.

Arab countries: They have surprisingly shown unified and effective support for Damascus. If they maintain these policies and offer more economic assistance, it will increase Syria's chances of success and positively impact Israel, the United SS, and Turkey.

In short, Arab countries are crucial if they remain united and engaged.

Hasbara is a dead language

Earlier coverage included the use of humanitarian aid to Idlib to boost Jolani and the HTS terror organization.

Al Qaeda Roots - Caliphate of the Levant - Part 3

Syrian rebels capture Idlib city in joint offensive | Al Nazeera - 29 March 2015 | [cached]

The "Fattah Army" coalition - including the al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Aqsa, Jaish al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, Ajnad al-Sham, and Faynad al-Sham - seized Idlib city after more than five days of fierce fighting.

The Western-backed Syrian National Coalition opposition group said the wresting of Idlib from government control was an "important victory on the road to the full liberation of Syrian soil from the Assad regime and its allies." However, it said more "decisive" assistance to Syrian rebels was needed for that to happen.

U.S. Backed Syrian Rebels Give Equipment To Al Qaeda Linked Group | Sept. 2015 |

...seems mild when compared to "large-scale human rights abuses". That is until you learn form recent news how Hayat Tahrir al Sham really rules:

Three women and one man were stoned to death in Idlib, northwestern Syria, on the orders of Islamist militant group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

According to sources close to HTS, who spoke to The New Arab's Arabic language service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the individuals executed were charged with "adultery" and "attempted murder".

They were brutally executed in the city centre and the sentence was carried out by the security apparatuses, sources said.

But the U.S. government and its media never had trouble to ally with entities who commit such crimes. They are in fact often seen them as valuable tools. Former U.S. officials no problem with admitting that:

James Jeffrey, who served as a U.S. ambassador under both Republican and Democrat administrations and most recently as special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat ISIS during the Trump administration, told Smith that Jolani's organization was "an asset" to America's strategy in Idlib.

Hasbara is a dead language

"The Syrian National Army is really pursuing a Turkish, not Syrian, agenda"

- Leila al-Shami, author [_link]

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 8, 2024

Hasbara is a dead language