Hostages held by Hamas: Emmanuel Macron "counts" on Donald Trump, who visits the region

Can Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East change the fate of the hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023? French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, May 12, that he was "counting on President Trump and his crucial visit to the region," just hours after the release of Edan Alexander.

The last living American hostage held in Gaza was handed over by Hamas to Israeli authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross, following direct negotiations between the United States and Hamas in Doha.

"Relief at the release of Edan Alexander. Every life freed is a victory and a step toward peace," Emmanuel Macron commented on X, calling for the "immediate" release of the hostages still held by Hamas.

The French head of state once again expressed his "full support for a ceasefire in Gaza" on Monday evening.

For his first international tour since returning to power, Donald Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar from Tuesday to Friday. In Riyadh , the American leader will meet with the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman), whose diplomatic influence continues to grow, as evidenced by the mediation role played by some of them in the Gaza conflict.

This war will most likely be on the agenda as a new round of negotiations could begin soon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he was sending a "negotiating delegation to Doha" to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza .

"I made it clear that negotiations would only take place under fire," the Israeli leader said.

Hamas is ready to participate in these negotiations "immediately." The Islamist organization's goal: "to reach a definitive agreement on ending the war, exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and ensuring the management of Gaza by an independent body (...) in addition to reconstruction and ending the siege."

According to the Israeli army, Hamas is still holding fifty-eight hostages in the Palestinian enclave, 34 of whom are dead, according to the IDF, which has been carrying out intense bombardments since the end of the last truce in mid-March.