Hamas on Saturday night, the eve of Passover, released a video showing a sign of life from 20-year-old Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, who has been held captive in Gaza for 554 days.
The family of the captive soldier has authorized the release of an image from the terror group’s psychological warfare video.
“As we gather for the holiday evening in the U.S., our family in Israel is preparing to sit around the Passover table,” the family said in a statement. “Edan, a lone soldier who made Aliyah and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, remains in Hamas captivity. As you mark the festival of freedom, remember that there is no true freedom while Edan and 58 other hostages are still not home.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi, following the release of the clip and expressed solidarity, his office said in a statement.
The prime minister told the family that “a tremendous effort is underway at this very moment to bring Idan and all our hostages home,” according to the statement.
Israeli negotiators are currently trying to maximize the number of live hostages included at the start of any potential agreement, even as the government continues to oppose a comprehensive deal that would end the war in exchange for the release of all hostages.
