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Nitzan Alon

Palestinian patients wait at Rafah Crossing to leave Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90)
February 1, 2026, 2:42 pm
Daily Briefing Feb. 1 — Rafah Crossing is readied for Gazans to pass through
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian discusses IDF preparedness for Iran, checkpoint mechanism at Rafah, Hamas Health Ministry death toll and the end of an era at IDF Hostage HQ
By Jessica Steinberg and Emanuel Fabian
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (3rd L) and Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, the IDF's point man in the hostage negotiations (2nd R) watch the release of Israeli-US soldier Edan Alexander at the military's hostages and missing persons headquarters on May 12, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
January 29, 2026, 5:10 pm
‘We did not assess all would return’: IDF shutters its Hostages HQ 846 days after Oct. 7
Senior officer says it took until late 2024 to confirm 251 were abducted during attack; more rescue ops were planned but were ‘increasingly operationally complex’ to carry out
By Emanuel Fabian
Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon attends a ceremony held at the IDF Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem, on July 8, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
December 9, 2025, 11:19 am
Former hostage point man says Hamas faces ‘objective’ hurdles in search for last body
Nitzan Alon reveals soldier Tamir Nimrodi was first captive to be accidentally killed by IDF inside Gaza, says influence of hostage rallies less ‘dramatic’ than people thought
By ToI Staff
Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon attends a ceremony at the IDF Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on July 8, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90/ File)
November 3, 2025, 2:37 am
‘A beacon of humanity’: Nitzan Alon, IDF’s hostage point man, to leave role after 2 years
Relatives of freed captives praise his persistence and accountability; ‘When I was taught in the army what an IDF commander should look like, I imagined someone like him,’ says one
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
This frame grab taken from an AFPTV footage shows smoke billowing following an Israeli strike on the Hamas headquarters in Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025. (PENNEY / AFPTV / AFP)
September 10, 2025, 12:49 pm
Israeli officials said to doubt success of strike on Hamas leaders in Doha
Top defense officials cited as having opposed strike’s timing; Israel, US reportedly promised Doha that Hamas wouldn’t be hit in Qatar; Trump ‘not thrilled about whole situation’
By ToI Staff
Visitors at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. August 11, 2025. (Miriam Alster/ Flash90)
August 12, 2025, 12:48 am
Ex-Mossad agent implicated in Qatargate scandal reportedly took part in hostage talks
Former security official says he was open about ties to Hamas-supporting Gulf state, but spy agency is said to have been unaware, as scandal in Netanyahu’s office continues to spiral
By ToI Staff
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi holds an assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba, October 8, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
April 8, 2025, 8:50 pm
First look at IDF chief’s October 7 schedule shows delayed top-level coordination
Document’s release comes after year-long delay, revealing that Halevi’s first meeting with Netanyahu took place more than three hours after Hamas’s surprise attack began
By Stav Levaton
Israelis protest calling for a deal to release hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, November 13, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
November 14, 2024, 1:32 pm
Some hostages have lost half their body weight while in Gaza, Families Forum assesses
As families’ health team warns of life-threatening dangers ahead of winter, IDF point man said to tell ministers military achievements have created conditions for a hostage deal
By ToI Staff
Israelis protest calling for the release of hostages held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza outside the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, September 19, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
September 20, 2024, 11:56 am
Top negotiator says proposal to end war, free all hostages ‘unknown’ to him – report
IDF envoy to talks notes government point-man Gal Hirsch, who told hostages’ families of plan, is not in negotiating team; Hostage Families Forum slams ‘cheap, cynical manipulation’
By ToI Staff
The Israeli war cabinet and top security officials meet in Tel Aviv on April 14, 2024, hours after Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel. (Amos Ben Gershom/ GPO)
May 29, 2024, 12:40 pm
War cabinet said to disagree over Hamas demand to end war in hostage deal
Netanyahu reportedly believes it would be ‘surrender’ to terror group; Israel said to show ‘willingness to be flexible’ on number of living hostages to be released in first stage
By ToI Staff
Nitzan Alon at IDF Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on March 25, 2015. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
May 27, 2024, 12:01 am
IDF negotiator said to pan PM’s handling of hostage talks as they’re set to resume
As war cabinet meets, Netanyahu’s office claims leaked comments from Nitzan Alon, reportedly pushing for Israeli concessions, are only helping Hamas harden its stance
By ToI Staff
Israelis call for the release of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza since Hamas's October 7 massacre, outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem on May 22, 2024. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
May 24, 2024, 4:00 pm
War cabinet said to expand mandate of negotiating team for potential hostage deal
Netanyahu reportedly opposed the move but was swayed by release of Oct. 7 footage of female soldiers, and consensus among Gallant, Gantz, Eizenkot, Dermer to continue talks
By ToI Staff
Israelis march during a protest by the relatives of hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian terrorists, outside Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on April 25, 2024, to call for government action to release the hostages. (Jack Guez/AFP)
April 26, 2024, 2:37 am
Israel said willing to accept release of fewer than 40 hostages in truce’s first phase
War cabinet authorized negotiators to discuss release of just 20 hostages in first phase, Hebrew media reports, before citing senior official who insists that number is actually 33
By ToI Staff
Demonstrators protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip rally in Tel Aviv, March 23, 2024. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
March 25, 2024, 1:43 am
Israel said willing to free some 800 inmates for 40 hostages, as talks given 50/50 odds
Report says up to 100 murder convicts could be released for female soldiers, but officials cautious on optimism; Hamas answer may take days with Sinwar hard to reach underground
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Demonstrators call for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and against the current Israeli government outside Hakirya Base in Tel Aviv, March 23, 2024. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
March 24, 2024, 12:17 am
Israel and Hamas continue indirect hostage talks in Qatar, amid reports of wide gaps
Hamas wants 30 security prisoners for every female soldier, Israel offering 5, says Al Jazeera; Sinwar’s deputy reportedly present; Barnea said set to fly home shortly
By ToI Staff
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