(NewsNation) — The parents of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 421 days, are urging immediate action to secure the release of their son and other captives.
Hamas released a propaganda video Saturday showing 20-year-old Alexander alive, marking his first proof of life since being kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis.
“The prime minister is supposed to protect his soldiers and citizens, and you abandoned us,” Alexander said, mentioning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent $5 million offer for the hostages’ return.
Edan’s mother, Yael Alexander, told demonstrators in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening she was shaking upon seeing her son: “I didn’t see Edan for 421 days and to suddenly see him alive, when he cried, I just wanted to hold him.”
The family is calling on President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden to work together to negotiate the hostages’ release. They stressed the urgency, noting that 101 hostages remain in captivity.
Edan Alexander, who volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces after high school in 2022, was serving near the Gaza border when captured. In the video, he pleads for Trump to use U.S. influence to bring the hostages home.
The U.S. National Security Council condemned Hamas, stating the war in Gaza could end immediately if the terrorist group agreed to release the hostages.
Currently, Hamas continues to hold several Americans, including Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai, and Keith Segal. American Hersh Golberg Polin was killed during the initial attack.
Netanyahu has spoken with the Alexander family, suggesting conditions are right to negotiate a hostage release.
“(Netanyahu) reassured me and promised that now, after reaching an arrangement in Lebanon, conditions are right to free you all and bring you home,” Yael said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who recently returned from Israel, reported that Trump is determined to secure the hostages’ freedom and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal.
Trump has stated he wants the hostages returned before his potential inauguration on Jan. 20, warning that “Hamas will be paying a big price” if they are not released.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who don’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count but say over half the dead were women and children.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
