The White House condemned the horrific hostage video Eden Alexander Released on Saturday, it called it a “brutal reminder of Hamas’s terror.”
The disturbing hostage footage shows the 20-year-old covering his face and crying. Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, was serving in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack.
In the footage, Alexander appeared pale and gaunt. The hostage was held captive for more than 420 days, explaining that he delivered forced messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President-elect Trump.
On Saturday, National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Sean Savett said the White House was aware of the footage and was in contact with Alexander’s family.
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A woman holds a picture of hostage Edan Alexander during the Global Day of Unity and Prayer with Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of those held captive by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023 attack. (via Yuri Cortez/AFP Getty Images)
“The hostage video of American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, released today, is a brutal reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of many countries, including our own,” he said.
“If Hamas agrees to release the hostages the war in Gaza will stop tomorrow and the suffering of Gazans will end immediately – and end months ago,” Savette added. “It has refused to do so, but as the president said last week, we have a crucial opportunity to conclude an agreement to release the hostages, stop the fighting and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Savett assured that President Biden will “continue to work around the clock” to free the hostages in Gaza.
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Edan Alexander was born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, currently held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. (Hostage Family Forum)
The release of the footage comes days after the IDF and the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah struck a deal. 60 days ceasefire in Lebanon. In announcing the deal on Tuesday, Biden acknowledged Hamas’ reluctance to release its hostages.
“Too many civilians in Gaza are suffering terribly,” the president said from the White House’s Rose Garden. “And Hamas has refused to negotiate a good-faith ceasefire and hostage agreement for months and months.”
Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi Alexander, appeared on “Fox & Friends” last month to talk about their son. During the interview, the New Jersey resident recounted a meeting he had with President-elect Trump.
“I told (Trump) about Edan, what a Jersey boy he is,” Yell said. “I told the president that the rescue(d) people saw Edan inside the tunnels in mid-November, and he told me they were talking to him, telling everyone he was an American citizen.”
An Israeli soldier rides in a military vehicle near Israel’s border with Lebanon on Wednesday, November 27. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)
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“He tried to calm everyone down and said, ‘Listen, you’re all civilians, you’ll be out soon, out soon. Don’t worry about it.’ It gave us a lot of strength to know that Edan was strong on October 7 and he was comforting others,” she said.
Reuters and Bailey Hill of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
