Hamas publishes video of US-Israeli hostage in Gaza making plea to Trump
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Hostage Edan Alexander pleaded in the Hamas video for US President-elect Donald Trump to secure his release from captivity.
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JERUSALEM – Palestinian militant group Hamas published a video of an Israeli-American hostage on Nov 30, in which he pleads for US President-elect Donald Trump to secure his release from captivity.
The family of hostage soldier Edan Alexander, 20, declined to comment but permitted the 3½-minute video to be published.
Mr Alexander was abducted to Gaza during the Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel.
The video shows a pale-looking Mr Alexander sitting in a dark space against a wall, identifying himself, addressing his family, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump. It was unclear if his captors scripted his statement.
Mr Netanyahu said in a statement that the video was cruel psychological warfare and that he had told Mr Alexander’s family in a phone call that Israel was working tirelessly to bring the hostages home.
Around half of the 101 foreign and Israeli hostages still held incommunicado in Gaza are believed to still be alive.
Hamas leaders were expected to arrive in Cairo on Nov 30 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 that it was reviving efforts towards that goal.
The Biden administration said it is working “around the clock” to secure the release of US citizens held hostage by Hamas.
“We have a critical opportunity to conclude the deal to release the hostages, stop the war and surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said. “This deal is on the table now.”
The Hostages Families Forum urged the administrations of both outgoing US President Joe Biden and Trump – who takes office in January – to step up efforts in order to secure a hostage release.
“The hostages’ lives hang by a thread,” it said. REUTERS
