As Jews in Israel and around the world came together to celebrate Passover, a holiday centered on the theme of liberation, Hamas released a disturbing video on Saturday evening showing proof of life from hostage soldier Edan Alexander.
The undated three-minute clip features Alexander, who states he has been held captive for 551 days, implying the footage was filmed very recently.
It marks the second time Hamas has released a video of him, the first being back in November.
Alexander, a 21-year-old American citizen, was serving as a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces when he was abducted near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023, during a brutal Hamas attack that left over 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians and triggered the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He was among approximately 250 hostages taken that day.
Hamas has released similar hostage videos in the past, which Israel condemns as psychological warfare. While the Alexander family requested Israeli media not to share the full footage, they allowed a single still image to be published.
“As we begin the holiday evening in the USA, our family in Israel is preparing to sit around the Seder table,” said Alexander’s family in a statement issued by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “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.”
“So when you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home.”
Born in Tel Aviv and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander returned to Israel in 2022 to enlist after completing high school.
Following the release of the video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contacted Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi. His office stated, “The prime minister told the family he empathizes with their pain and updated that currently tremendous efforts are taking place to return Edan and the rest of the hostages.”
The timing of the video’s release coincided with a failed diplomatic effort by the United States to secure Alexander’s release through both direct and mediated negotiations with Hamas.
Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza shortly afterward, ending a temporary lull in hostilities that had followed the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal struck in January.
Reports also revealed that news of the secret US-Hamas talks emerged the same day former President Donald Trump addressed Congress, with the administration allegedly aiming for a breakthrough that would secure Alexander’s freedom ahead of the speech.
The move raised concerns in Israel about the implications of direct US negotiations with Hamas , a designated terrorist organization under American law—and the perception that dual nationals like Alexander could receive preferential treatment.
Currently, Egypt, alongside Qatar and the US, is working on a new plan to revive the ceasefire. The proposed arrangement would secure the release of eight more living hostages.
As it stands, Israel believes 24 hostages, including Alexander, are still alive in Gaza, with 35 others confirmed dead.
A one-week ceasefire in November 2023 resulted in the release of over 100 hostages, predominantly women and children.
A second truce in January 2025 led to the return of several more hostages, both living and deceased, in exchange for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Although the agreement included plans for two more phases that would secure the release of all hostages, end the war, and bring about Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, the truce disintegrated after the first stage. Israel declined to proceed with further negotiations, and Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire, prompting a renewed Israeli military offensive.
