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Alexander, a dual American-Israeli citizen, was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks last year.
Edan Alexander is held in Gaza since the devastating October 7, 2023 attack on Israel | Image/X
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday released a video of an Israeli-American hostage, showing him pleading with US President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure his release.
Edan Alexander, 20, who has been held hostage in Gaza for over 420 days now, was seen covering his face and breaking into tears in the video released by Hamas.
Alexander, a dual American-Israeli citizen, was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks on Israel.
The family of Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American held hostage in Gaza, has authorized the release of the heartbreaking proof of life video published by terrorists earlier today. pic.twitter.com/pYp8vttt8t— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 30, 2024
White House Reacts
The White House denounced the harrowing video of the US-Israeli hostage, calling it “a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror.”
National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Sean Savett said that the White House was aware of the footage and is in touch with Alexander’s family.
“The hostage video released today of American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander is a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own,” he said.
The hostage video released today of American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander is a cruel reminder of Hamas’ terror. @POTUS and the U.S. will continue to work around the clock to secure his release and the release of all the hostages held by Hamas.Full statement here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wLFM0MItRU
— Sean Savett (@NSC_Spox) December 1, 2024
Alexander’s Mother ‘Shaken’
Alexander’s mother, Yael, said she was shaken after seeing the video of her son, held hostage and being seated in a dark space against a wall.
The video “gives us hope, but it also shows how difficult it is for Edan and for the other hostages, and how much they are crying out and praying for us to rescue them,” his mother said at a Tel Aviv rally calling for the hostages’ release.
“My dear, beloved Edan, we miss you painfully,” she said before she called on Israel’s leaders to end the war in Gaza and make a deal with Hamas to release the hostages.
She claimed that she spoke directly with Netanyahu and urged the leader to honour his commitment to secure the hostages’ release.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed the development, saying that the video was cruel psychological warfare. He had told Alexander’s family in a phone call that Israel was working tirelessly to bring the hostages home.
Hamas leaders were expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday for ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials to explore ways to reach a deal that could secure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. The fresh bid comes after Washington said this week it was reviving efforts toward that goal.
The October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,207 deaths—mostly civilians—also led to the kidnapping of 251 hostages. Of these, around 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 whose deaths have been confirmed, but whose bodies have yet to be returned.
A brief truce in November 2023 facilitated the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners, as well as 25 Thai captives. However, subsequent efforts to negotiate further ceasefire remain blurred.