Written by Maayan Lubell
JERUSALEM – The Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, released a video of an Israeli-American prisoner on Saturday, in which they called for the release of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Yael Alexander, the mother of kidnapped Edan Alexander, said she was moved by the 3-1/2-minute video, which shows the 20-year-old prisoner looking pale, sitting in a dark spot on a wall. He revealed himself to have spoken to his family, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump.
The video “gives us hope, but it also shows how difficult it is for Edan and the other hostages, and how much they cry and pray for us to rescue them,” his mother said at a rally in Tel Aviv calling for the hostages. the release of captives.
“My dear, dear Edan, we miss you terribly,” he said before calling on Israeli leaders to end the war in Gaza and make a deal with Hamas to free the hostages.
Netanyahu said in a statement that the video was “brutal psychological warfare” and told Alexander’s (NYSE: ) family in a phone call that Israel was working hard to bring the hostages home. Trump’s transition team was not immediately available for comment.
Alexander, who was a soldier at the time of his capture, was taken to Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023 by Hamas in southern Israel.
About half of the 101 Israeli hostages and Israelis still being held incommunicado in Gaza are believed to be alive.
Hamas leaders were expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday where they will discuss with Egyptian officials to look at ways to reach an agreement that would guarantee the release of hostages to return Palestinian prisoners.
The new bid comes after Washington said this week it was renewing efforts toward that goal.
The Biden administration, which runs until January 20, has said it is working “night and day” to secure the release of American citizens held by Hamas.
“We have an important opportunity to finalize an agreement to release the hostages, stop the fighting, and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett. “This deal is on the table now.”
The Hostages Families Forum urged the administrations of both outgoing President Joe Biden and Trump to strengthen efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
“The lives of the hostages are hanging by the wire,” said the newspaper.
