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On Saturday, Hamas released a video showing what it claimed to be an alive Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. The video also criticized the Israeli governement for not taking action to free him. The video was published by Hamas's militant faction, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades and lasts over three minutess.
As per an AFP report, Alexander was identified as a soldier by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. He worked in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border and has been missing since October 7th, 2023 due to an attack by Palestinian militants.
The video shows Alexader’s head and upper torso. Alexander is sitting in a small, 3-sided box and states that he wishes to celebrate holidays. The video however does not state when it was filmed.
The video was released around the same time that Isreal is celebrating Passover, which celebrates the Israelites relief from slavery in Egypt.
He was born in Tel Aviv where he spent some time before his parents relocated to New Jersery. He turned 21 in captivity. After finishing high school, he came to Israel to serve in the army which is where he met his captors.
"As we commence the holiday evening in the USA, our family in Israel is getting ready to sit around the Seder table,” stated Alexander’s family, as quoted in forum press release.
“When you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other hostages are not home,” the family added, as cited in AFP reporting.
What Edan Alexander Said In The Video
Alexander, seemingly under some form of duress, repeatedly stabs and draws circles with the fingers of both hands and gives slanderous remarks towards Netanyahu's government in Israel for not doing anything to set him free in an uncontrolled environment.
He appears to ask the Israeli government and the Trump administration why they are still holding him hostage and demands to be set free so he can go home to his family.
“Looks like we aren’t welcome and we have been abandoned in this place. This world is too vile, and so is Israeli government. Daily, I witness this clown – Netanyahu – ruling over the country like a megalomaniac," Alexander remarked from the video.
"Physically, my condition is deteriorating…my mental health is worse. I found out that Hamas was willing to set me free for the rest of my life three weeks back. However, you decided against it. So, why? Why am I not with my family and friends? Why am I not home? Why is today an opportunity for me to film my second video? Why am I posing for a video in front of a camera?" he exclaimed.
“Everyone has fooled me…my own people, the Israeli government, the American administration. Their army, and every other branch,” he included while vid- slamming the Israeli government and the US.
Watch full video here:
Katz also exposed intentions of ramping up the offensive focus throughout the Gaza Strip alongside the control of the Morag axis at the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis. The video was released hours after the Defense Minister of Israel was reported to be commanding the military.
Hamas indicated in a statement on Saturday that the ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza is not only threatening the lives of Palestinian civilians, but also endangers the safety of those who have been taken hostage.
Hamas added, “In addition to the slaughter of helpless non-combatant civilians, ‘defenceless’ of the indefensible structures built in occupier’s country, the death of the captive soldiers is also at risk”.
Al-Qassam Brigades released new footage today of an Israeli captive with American citizenship in their custody, saying:
— Yemen Military ???????? (@Yemenimilitary) April 12, 2025
"Why am I here? Hamas was about to release me, but you refused."
pic.twitter.com/mOM4GhbL6O
The militants from Palestine captured 251 hostages during their 2023 invasion of Israel on October 7, which sparked the conflict over Gaza Strip. Currently, 58 of the 251 hostages are still held captive, of whom 34 are claimed deceased by Israel.
Militants also claimed that the recently released hostages included the bodies of eight individuals in the ceasefire that ended on March 18 when Israel began air strikes on Gaza.
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