Hamas has released a video on Sunday purportedly of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander who was kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In the undated video, the man who claims to be Edan Alexander, a soldier in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border, said he had been held by Hamas for 551 days and questions why he was still being held, while criticizing Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu led government and pleading for his release.
Hamas’ armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, published the video which is over three minutes long and the hostage Alexander can be seen seated in dark, enclosed space.
Al-Qassam Brigades released new footage today of an Israeli captive with American citizenship in their custody, saying:
“Why am I here? Hamas was about to release me, but you refused.”
pic.twitter.com/mOM4GhbL6O— Yemen Military 🇾🇪 (@Yemenimilitary) April 12, 2025
The timing of the video release coincides with Jews marking Passover, wherein they celebrate freedom during a weeklong holiday.
Alexander’s family issued a statement on the edited video released by Hamas and said the holiday would not be one of freedom as long as Edan and the 58 other hostages remained in Hamas’ captivity.
Hostage Alexander’s family said “Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, is still being held captive by Hamas.”
Alexander criticised the Israeli government in the purported video and called out PM Netanyahu for not continuing the ceasefire.
“It seems we are not wanted…and we have been deserted here. I am collapsing because of this disgusting world and disgusting Israeli government,” Alexander purportedly said in the video.
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Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on January 19 and the militant group had released 38 hostages, but the Israeli military resumed its offensive against Gaza based Hamas in March, abandoning the ceasefire as Hamas rejected extending the first phase of ceasefire without ending the war.
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