For Mr Alexander, his family and the many Israelis who have been campaigning for the hostages in Gaza, his release brought relief and joy. For Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, it was a moment of diplomatic embarrassment.

Israel's right-wing government has maintained a diplomatic silence this week as U.S. President Donald Trump fired off a blizzard of announcements that have shaken Israeli assumptions about their country's standing with its most important ally.

As Israel sets out to expand military operations in Gaza, a senior Israeli official told Newsweek that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sticking behind U.S. President Donald Trump 's vision of transforming the war-torn Palestinian territory into a coveted Middle East destination.