White House Responds to Disturbing Hostage Video of Edan Alexander, Condemns Hamas
The White House has strongly condemned a disturbing hostage video released on Saturday, featuring Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen. In the footage, Alexander, who appeared pale and distressed, was seen covering his face and crying. The 20-year-old, a member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks.
In the video, Alexander spoke about being held captive for more than 420 days and delivered forced messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President-elect Trump. National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the White House was aware of the video and is in contact with Alexander’s family.
“This hostage video of Edan Alexander is a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens from multiple countries, including our own,” Savett said. He added that if Hamas agreed to release the hostages, the war in Gaza and the suffering of civilians would end immediately. “But Hamas has refused to do so. As the President said last week, we have a critical opportunity to negotiate a deal to release the hostages, end the war, and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Savett stated.
Savett also reassured the public that President Biden is “working around the clock” to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
The video release came shortly after a 60-day cease-fire agreement between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, was announced on Tuesday. During the announcement, President Biden highlighted Hamas’s refusal to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage deal. “Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much,” Biden said from the White House Rose Garden. “And Hamas has refused, for months, to negotiate in good faith.”
Last month, Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi Alexander, spoke about their son’s captivity during an interview on “Fox & Friends.” They shared that in mid-November, some of the hostages rescued from Gaza reported seeing Edan inside the tunnels, where he identified himself as an American citizen. “I just told [Trump] about Edan, what kind of Jersey boy he is,” said Yael.
