New Hamas video: U.S. hostage held in Gaza calls on Trump to push a deal
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People attend a march calling for the release of hostages, following an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, one year on in Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel, on Oct. 7, 2024. Photographer: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Hamas released a video on Saturday with proof of life from U.S. citizen Edan Alexander, who is being held hostage in Gaza and in the footage calls on President-elect Trump to negotiate for his release.
Why it matters: This is the first time a video of Alexander has emerged since he was taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
- Alexander says in the video he has been held captive for more than 420 days, which raises the possibility the video was taken in the last 24 hours.
- 101 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza, among them seven Americans.
- An Israeli official said he sees the release of the video as a positive sign from Hamas.
Driving the news: In the video, Alexander calls on Trump in the video to use his influence and the "full power of the U.S." to secure his release.
- Alexander also says he doesn't want to die like the American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was murdered by his Hamas captives.
What they're saying: The video is "a cruel reminder of Hamas's terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own," National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement on Saturday.
- "[W]e have a critical opportunity to conclude the deal to release the hostages, stop the war, and surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza. This deal is on the table now," the statement continued.
- The Trump transition team didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The big picture: Negotiations over the deal to release hostages held by Hamas and establish a ceasefire in Gaza have been stalled for more than three months.
- President Biden and Trump discussed the issue during their two-hour Oval Office meeting two weeks ago.
- The issue also came up during a meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump's incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), and in a conversation between Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Zoom in: Biden told Netanyahu during a phone call on Tuesday that following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the focus should now be on reaching a deal in Gaza. Netanyahu told Biden he wants to try.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios in an interview that Trump wants to see a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before he assumes office on Jan. 20.
- "Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now," Graham said.
State of play: A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday for talks with Egyptian mediators about the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
- A senior Israeli official said Israel has indications that Hamas is willing to be more flexible on several of the sticking points in the negotiations, including the timetable for the Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border.
- "Hamas is signaling that it is ready to make some compromises, but they want to see such Israeli willingness too. Hamas wants to push for a deal, but they want Israel to show more flexibility," the Israeli official said.
Zoom out: Alexander's parents responded on Saturday to the video Hamas released of their son.
- "We implore President-elect Trump to work with President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu and immediately secure a deal to bring every hostage home," the parents said, calling the video "a haunting reminder that 101 innocent people remain in the clutches of Hamas."
- "Every passing hour dims the prospect of their survival," the parents said.
- They called for "swift, decisive action" and said a deal could not wait until President-elect Trump is inaugurated.
Go deeper: Trump wants Gaza ceasefire deal before inauguration, Graham says
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Alexander's parents and from NSC spokesperson Sean Savett, and corrected to accurately reflect the spelling of Edan.
