In a development tinged with both hope and desperation, the family of Edan Alexander—an Israeli-American hostage from Tenafly, New Jersey—responded to a recently released Hamas propaganda video with renewed calls for his release. The video, which surfaced on Saturday and was reported by CBS News New York, shows the young man who appears to be speaking under duress after spending more than a year in captivity. Edan's father, Adi Alexander, described the footage as emotional and disturbing yet offered "a sliver of hope" upon seeing his son alive.
During a public plea in New York City's Central Park, Adi Alexander expressed his family's anguish and the stark reality of missing holiday celebrations, saying, "Listen, we don't do holidays any longer, you know, for the past year. It's very tough." Edan, a 20-year-old who joined the Israeli Defense Forces immediately after high school, was captured during the October 7 attacks, as detailed by a rally highlighted by a CBS interview with his parents.
Amidst continued efforts to broker a ceasefire and a potential hostage deal, optimism cautiously rises. According to CBS News New York, Yael Alexander, Edan's mother, conveyed during an event in Tel Aviv the Israeli Prime Minister's belief that "conditions are ripe" for a deal. Such statements have coincided with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's remarks on CBS' Face The Nation, where he mentioned working with regional partners to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage deal.
While the global political gears slowly churn, the emotional toll on families remains palpable. "No father should hear his child plead for his life like that," Adi Alexander said in a statement obtained by ABC7NY. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also lent his voice, urging the Biden and incoming Trump administrations to work towards securing Edan's release, in a post on social media platform X.
The turn of events falls on the Hebrew month of Kislev, a time traditionally associated with miracles during Hanukkah. The Alexander family, holding onto hope amid their ordeal, eagerly awaits tangible action from international leaders. As Adi Alexander firmly stated to CBS News New York, "You stay strong, survive, and we are coming for you." His message to decision-makers: strength is moot without corresponding action.
