Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old dual citizen who had been fighting as part of the Israeli war effort, met with President Donald Trump today in the oval office after being released by Hamas from a 584-day-long captivity.

He credited the president for his release, saying: “I came to thank the person responsible for saving my life. It was deeply moving to be in the White House, the same place where my parents had fought for my release so many times, but this time together with them.”

He also told the president that his captors started treating him better as soon as he came into office.

“They weren’t too afraid of Biden,” Trump replied.

He also asked for Trump’s help in securing the release of the remaining hostages: “I told the most powerful man in the world what I went through, what my friends are enduring, and asked him to continue doing everything in his power.”

“I shared with the president my fear that continued fighting endangers the hostages. I hope he can achieve another historic breakthrough—a comprehensive deal to free all 50 hostages. I told him I am confident he is the person who can make it happen.”

Hamas released Alexander unconditionally in May, in what was seen as a “goodwill gesture” to Trump to get his help in reviving ceasefire talks with Israel.

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Trump is scheduled to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next Monday and said he will be “very firm” with him on the need to end the war. He said that Netanyahu “wants it, too” and predicts that a ceasefire deal can be reached next week.

On Wednesday, Hamas announced it was considering the latest hostage-ceasefire deal proposed by Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy for the Trump administration. Inner sources said that Hamas’ attitude toward it was “generally positive.”

Israel’s foreign minister likewise made a statement that Israel wants to resume talks “as soon as possible.”

Witkoff’s proposal is for Hamas to release 10 living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of 18 deceased hostages in return for a 60 day ceasefire. All hostages would be released if a permanent ceasefire was agreed upon during that time.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard took aim at The Washington Post on Thursday, accusing one of the outlet’s reporters of “harassing” her staffers and even “demanding they share sensitive information.”

Gabbard called out reporter Ellen Nakashima by name, accusing her of using underhanded methods to get sensitive information from staffers at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and saying that the same reporter had used similar tactics on her and her family when she was in her home state of Hawaii.

It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing ODNI staff. Instead of reaching out to my press office, she is calling high level Intelligence Officers from a burner phone, refusing to identify herself, lying about the fact…

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 3, 2025

“It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing ODNI staff,” Gabbard announced in a post on X. “Instead of reaching out to my press office, she is calling high level Intelligence Officers from a burner phone, refusing to identify herself, lying about the fact that she works for the Washington Post, and then demanding they share sensitive information.”

“Apparently, publishing leaked classified material wasn’t enough for the Washington Post, so now they’ve decided to go after the Intelligence professionals charged to protect it,” the former Congresswoman (D-HI) added. “This is a clear political op by the same outlet and the same reporter who harassed and stalked my family in Hawaii. This kind of deranged behavior reflects a media establishment so desperate to sabotage @POTUS’s successful agenda that they’ve abandoned even a facade of journalistic integrity and ethics.”

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“The Washington Post should be ashamed, and they should put an end to this immediately,” she declared.

The Post fired back with a statement from Executive Editor Matt Murray, defending Nakashima and saying, “For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security. Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment. It is basic journalism. DNI Gabbard’s unfounded personal attack reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about the role of journalists to report on government officials and hold power to account, without fear or favor and regardless of party. The Post remains committed to that vital and constitutionally protected work.”