In a video released by Hamas’s armed wing, an Israeli-American hostage named Edan Alexander was shown alive, criticizing the Israeli government for not securing his release. Alexander, a soldier in an elite infantry unit, was abducted by Palestinian militants during an attack on Israel on October 7.
The video, which is over three minutes long, shows the hostage seated in a small space, expressing his desire to return home for the holidays. Alexander, who recently turned 21, was born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey before returning to Israel to serve in the army.
His family, in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, highlighted the absence of their son during the Passover celebrations and urged for his safe return. The family emphasized that true freedom cannot be celebrated as long as Edan and other hostages remain captive.
The video, released shortly after Israel’s military seized control of the Morag axis in Gaza, shows Alexander speaking under duress and criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Hamas, in response to Israel’s offensive operations in Gaza, expressed concern for the safety of the remaining hostages.
During the 2023 attack that led to the current situation, Palestinian militants took 251 hostages, with 58 still in captivity. The recent ceasefire saw the release of 33 hostages, including eight bodies, before Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza.
(This article is generated from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff)
