Yael Alexander, the mother of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, expressed her distress after watching a recently released video in which her son pleads with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his release. Edan was kidnapped by militants on October 7 last year, and Yael spoke at a rally in “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv, where families gather weekly to demand the return of their loved ones.
In her emotional address to the crowd, she revealed that she was contacted by Netanyahu shortly after the video was made public. “My Edan, my love, we miss you so much. Following your request, about an hour ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu called me. He reassured me that, following the recent deal in Lebanon, the conditions are ripe for your release and to bring you home,” she stated.
The reference to the “deal in Lebanon” pertains to a 60-day ceasefire agreement that commenced this past Wednesday between Israel and Hezbollah. The families of hostages are hopeful that this ceasefire might facilitate a deal for their loved ones’ safe return from Gaza. In the video, Edan appears to be under duress, expressing that he has been held captive for over 420 days; Saturday marks the 421st day since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This release of the video comes one year after a brief hostage and ceasefire agreement resulted in the release of 100 hostages in November. While CNN has not been able to independently confirm the video’s timing, Edan makes comments reflecting the political climate, urging Trump to leverage U.S. influence for the hostages’ release, while criticizing the Biden administration. “Please do not repeat the mistakes made by Biden,” he implores in the video.
Edan also expresses a desire to avoid the fate of another American-Israeli citizen, Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was killed in Hamas captivity in August. Following the release of the video, Netanyahu confirmed he had spoken with the Alexander family, characterizing the video as “a brutal psychological warfare” but also noting it as an “exciting sign of life” from Edan.
Netanyahu stated that he empathized with the family’s suffering and affirmed, “Israel is working with determination to bring them home, along with all other abductees in enemy hands.”
Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, called the video “a cruel reminder of Hamas’ terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own,” and confirmed communication with Edan’s family. He placed the responsibility for the stalled negotiations on Hamas while stating that a deal is “on the table now,” emphasizing the opportunity to resolve the hostage situation, end the conflict, and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also commented on the shocking video, stating it serves as “definite proof that, despite all rumors, there are living hostages who are suffering greatly.” They highlighted the urgency of reaching a deal to ensure the return of all 101 hostages, urging both the current and incoming U.S. administrations to utilize every possible option to apply pressure, as “the hostages’ lives hang by a thread.”
At the conclusion of the video, Edan shares heartfelt messages with his parents and grandparents, saying, “Every day that passes, the pain increases inside me. I miss you very much. Every day, I pray to see you soon. Please be strong. It is only a matter of time until this nightmare ends.”
Credit: CNN
