Hamas released a video today showing U.S. citizen Edan Alexander, who is currently being held hostage in Gaza. In the video, Alexander urges President-elect Trump to step in and use his influence to negotiate for his release. This marks the first time footage of Alexander has surfaced since he was taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Alexander, in the video, states that he has been in captivity for over 420 days, suggesting the video was recorded recently, within the past 24 hours. Currently, 101 hostages remain in Hamas’s custody in Gaza, including seven Americans. An Israeli official has indicated that the release of the video is seen as a hopeful signal from Hamas.
In the footage, Alexander directly appeals to Trump, asking him to leverage the “full power of the U.S.” to secure his freedom. He also mentions his desire not to suffer the same fate as American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed by his Hamas captors.
National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett described the video as “a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own.” He further noted, “[W]e have a critical opportunity to conclude the deal to release the hostages, stop the war, and surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza. This deal is on the table now.”
The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Efforts to finalize an agreement for the release of hostages and establish a ceasefire in Gaza have been stalled for over three months.
President Biden and Trump discussed the situation in a two-hour Oval Office meeting two weeks ago. The topic was also addressed during a meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), as well as in talks between Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
During a phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday, Biden emphasized that after the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, attention should shift to securing a deal for Gaza. Netanyahu expressed his willingness to try. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios that Trump is eager to see a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before his inauguration on January 20. “Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham said.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo today for discussions with Egyptian mediators regarding the hostage situation and a potential ceasefire deal. A senior Israeli official noted that Israel has indications that Hamas may be more willing to compromise on several key points, including the timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border. “Hamas is signaling that it is ready to make some compromises, but they want to see such Israeli willingness too. Hamas wants to push for a deal, but they want Israel to show more flexibility,” the Israeli official stated.
Alexander’s parents responded to the release of the video featuring their son. They urged President-elect Trump to collaborate with President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu to quickly reach a deal that would bring all hostages home. “We implore President-elect Trump to work with President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu and immediately secure a deal to bring every hostage home,” they said, calling the video “a haunting reminder that 101 innocent people remain in the clutches of Hamas.” They added, “Every passing hour dims the prospect of their survival,” and emphasized the need for “swift, decisive action,” insisting that a deal could not wait until Trump’s inauguration.
{Matzav.com}