In May, Trump secured the release of Edan Alexander, the last US Israeli citizen held hostage after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and started the latest war. Alexander, who grew up in Tenafly, NJ, had been serving in the Israeli military when he was captured.

Hamas issued a scathing statement in which it rejected U.S. criticism of its handling of negotiations aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza.