Sign of life: Hamas publishes video of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander after 554 days in captivity

The terrorist organization Hamas released a sign of life this evening (Saturday) from hostage American-Israeli Edan Alexander. 59 Israelis are still being held captive in Gaza — it has now been 554 days.

Edan Alexander’s family responded to the release of the video, saying:
“As we begin our holiday evening in the U.S., the family in Israel is preparing for Shabbat around the Seder table. Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to protect it and its citizens, is still held captive by Hamas. So as you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not truly a Festival of Freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not yet home.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with Yael and Adi, the parents of Edan Alexander, following the release of the Hamas video. Netanyahu told the family he shares their pain and updated them that “at this very moment, a tremendous effort is underway to bring back Edan and all the hostages.”

Last November, Hamas released a video of Edan that his family approved for publication. In it, he mentioned the number of days he had been in captivity and addressed U.S. President Donald Trump as an American citizen. Alexander is the only Golani soldier kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. The site of his abduction is referred to as “The White House Outpost,” not far from Nirim and Nir Oz.

U.S. negotiations for the release of Edan Alexander

The New York Times reported two days ago new details regarding direct negotiations between the U.S. and Hamas for Alexander’s release, as he holds American citizenship. According to the report, the parties met three times, during which the terrorist organization demanded the release of 250 prisoners in exchange for Alexander.

Adam Boehler, the former U.S. envoy for hostage affairs who was dismissed after it was revealed he held direct talks with Hamas, met with Hamas representatives in Qatar to negotiate Alexander’s release — aiming to enable President Donald Trump to announce the deal publicly in a speech to Congress.

According to the report, Israeli Minister Ron Dermer, in charge of the hostage negotiations, was furious with Boehler for not informing Israel that he was conducting direct talks with Hamas. Additionally, Israel thwarted another meeting Boehler had planned in Doha.

The New York Times stated that four sources familiar with the matter said Hamas initially demanded the release of 500 prisoners for Alexander but later offered a “gesture” to save time and agreed to 250 prisoners, including 100 serving life sentences. Hamas’s lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, believed the U.S. could “push Israel” to agree to the deal.

The last meeting between the parties took place on March 5, during which the American representatives realized their proposal was not viable. They agreed to the release of 100 prisoners in exchange for Alexander, without a guarantee that the list would include those serving life sentences. Sources added that the proposal also included the release of Palestinian women and children in exchange for the resumption of aid to Gaza.

Previous hostage videos

A week ago, Hamas published footage of two hostages, Maxim Herkin and Bar Kuperstein. This was the first visual proof of life for both since their abduction from the Nova music festival in Re’im on October 7. The families did not approve the release of the video or any clips or images from it.

Herkin’s family identified his voice even in the blurry “teaser” Hamas had released earlier. Israel's Coordinator for the Missing and Captives, Gal Hirsch, spoke with the Herkin and Kuperstein families after the video’s release.

At the end of March, Hamas published another video of hostage Elkana Bohot, just days after a previous video featuring him alongside hostage Yosef Chaim Ohana.

In the first video released of Elkana and Yosef Chaim, the two cried out for help from Ohad Ben Ami, who had been with them in captivity for a time. In response, Ohad published a post calling for their rescue:

“My beloved friends who remain in Hamas captivity, I love and miss you and the three other hostages whose names I still cannot mention. As I wrote six days ago, they truly fear for their lives. They are hopeless, and at this very moment their conditions are worsening — their food rations are being reduced since we resumed fighting,” wrote Ben Ami.