Hamas on Saturday released a video purportedly showing Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, who has been held captive in Gaza since he was abducted by Palestinian militants during the October 7, 2023 attacks. In the undated video, the man identifying himself as Alexander says he has been detained in Gaza for 551 days and pleads for his release.
The video was released as the Jewish community began the Passover holiday, which commemorates liberation and freedom. In a statement, Alexander’s family acknowledged the video, saying this year’s Passover could not truly celebrate freedom while Edan and the 58 other hostages remained in captivity.
Alexander, who serves in the Israeli military, was among the hostages taken when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, triggering the ongoing conflict, which is now in its eighteenth month.
Hamas has periodically released videos of hostages during the war, often showing them pleading for release. Israeli officials have consistently dismissed such videos as psychological warfare and propaganda aimed at pressuring the government.
