Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday of standing with Hamas after Macron said Israel's policy in Gaza was "shameful".

The Israel Defense Forces targeted the head of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Sinwar, in an airstrike on a bunker underneath a hospital in Khan Younis, three Israeli officials told Axios. Why it matters: The death of Sinwar,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he’s days away from ordering an all-out escalation of Israel’s war against Hamas, and even the release of more hostages would only pause the campaign to destroy the Iran-backed group.

Edan Alexander was 19 when Hamas militants stormed the Israeli military base where the American-Israeli from New Jersey was a soldier and dragged him into the Gaza Strip

Edan Alexander, a dual Israeli American national, was released following pressure from President Trump, who is set to travel to the region.

The agreement to release Edan Alexander came after talks between Washington and Hamas that did not include Israel.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An American-Israeli soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip was released Monday, Hamas said, in a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.

American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas on Monday after being held captive for 19 months.

Freeing Alexander, believed to be the last surviving American hostage held by the militant Palestinian group, comes ahead of U.S. President Trump's visit to the Middle East this week.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly ramps up the war in Gaza, despite mounting pressure from Trump and castigation by France's president.