Mother of American hostage 'shaken' after Hamas releases video of him in captivity
The mother of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander told NBC News she was both shocked and relieved to see her son in a Hamas-issued propaganda video.
JERUSALEM — The mother of Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander told NBC News she was both shaken and relieved to see her son in a Hamas-issued propaganda video.
“To get this video it’s a huge relief for me to see that he’s still strong. It was amazing,” Yael Alexander said in a video call Saturday, hours after the video, captioned “time is running out,” was posted on the Telegram channel of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades.
Edan grew up in New Jersey and had volunteered to serve with Israel’s military. He was stationed outside Gaza when he was among around 250 people taken hostage during Hamas’ terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that also saw 1,200 people killed, according to Israeli tallies. Around 100 people remain in captivity, although a third are believed to be dead.
The 20-year-old, who appears under duress in the Hamas video, calls on President-elect Donald Trump to use his power to negotiate for the freedom of those who remain in captivity in Gaza.
Edan, who at points can be seen covering his face with his hands and crying, adds that he does not want to end up like fellow American Israeli Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was killed while being held by Hamas in August.
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