In a chilling new video released by Hamas, American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander desperately appeals to US President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure his freedom, along with other captives being held in the Gaza Strip. The White House swiftly denounced the footage as “a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries.”
Hostage Pleads for Trump and Netanyahu to Make a Deal
The propaganda video, titled “Soon … Time is running out” and posted on the Telegram channel of Hamas’s military wing, shows a haggard Alexander directly addressing the incoming US president. “Please do not make the mistake Biden has been doing,” the 23-year-old implores, referring to failed efforts to free him and other hostages. Alexander warns he does not want to “end up dead” like fellow American captive Hersh Goldberg Polin, killed by Hamas in August.
Hamas abducted Alexander on October 7, 2023, and has held him for over 420 days. In the disturbing footage, he appears to be under duress, at times covering his face and crying as he begs Trump to use his “influence and the full power of the United States” to broker a prisoner exchange. The captive’s family authorized the video’s release, hoping it will spur action to bring him home.
White House Condemns “Cruel” Hamas Tactics
In a forceful response, National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett blasted Hamas for prolonging the suffering in Gaza by refusing to release the hostages, asserting that a deal is currently “on the table.” The White House vowed to keep working “around the clock” to free the captives, including through sanctions, law enforcement measures, and diplomatic channels.
President Biden had expressed optimism about a “critical opportunity” to finalize an agreement, end the war, and deliver aid to Gaza. But the Hamas video, aimed squarely at his successor, underscores the immense challenges that still lie ahead. On the campaign trail, Trump slammed Biden and Vice President Harris for projecting “weakness” that emboldened Hamas to launch the attack.
Captive’s Family Anguished Yet Hopeful
An emotional Yael Alexander, Edan’s mother, told supporters at a Tel Aviv rally that she was “shaken” by her son’s message. After speaking with Netanyahu, she expressed cautious optimism that recent developments, like the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, have created “ripe” conditions for a breakthrough. “The prime minister is supposed to protect his citizens and soldiers,” Edan himself admonishes Netanyahu in Hebrew during the video, lamenting that the captives are “dying a thousand times every day.”
The fear is at its peak, and we are dying a thousand times every day that passes, and no one feels for us. The people of Israel: Do not neglect us. We want to return home with a full mind.
– Edan Alexander, American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas
With over 100 captives still languishing, advocacy groups like the Hostages and Missing Families Forum say the “shocking” video provides “definite proof” of their dire plight. They argue that securing the prisoners’ release is “only possible through a deal” after 420 days of “continuous abuse, starvation, and darkness.” Netanyahu’s office insists Israel is pursuing their freedom “resolutely and in every way possible.”
Calls for Urgent US Action Intensify
As the crisis drags on, pressure is mounting on American leaders to intervene more forcefully. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Alexander’s home state, said he stands with the family in urging “both the Biden Administration and incoming Trump Administration to do everything possible” to quickly broker an agreement. How the president-elect will confront this early foreign policy test remains to be seen, but for the hostages and their loved ones, the stakes could not be higher.
The plight of Edan Alexander and his fellow Gaza captives serves as a stark reminder of the human toll exacted by the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a new US administration prepares to wade into the turbulent waters of Middle East diplomacy, their fate hangs in the balance – a poignant symbol of the challenges and moral imperatives that will confront President Trump from day one.
