The Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday released a video of Yidan Alexander, one of the four surviving American hostages. In it, he appeals to “President Trump” to pressure Israel to release it.
Alexander is one of four living Americans still held as hostages by Hamas (several others are still classified as hostages but are believed to have died). A fifth, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was executed by Hamas in August. Despite its controversial content, the video is treated as important and valuable evidence in Israel, as it is the first sign that Alexander is still alive.
Hamas' apparent intention is to pressure President Trump in the same way it tried to pressure President Joe Biden, and to use the plight of the hostages to persuade the Israeli government to force the United States to abandon the fight in Gaza. It's about getting them to rely on you. Hamas rejects hostage deals that do not involve Israel abandoning its mission to destroy the organization.
In a video recorded under duress, Alexander can be seen in emotional distress, crying at times and holding his head in his hands. He stressed that his life was in danger and cited Hamas's “new instructions” to kill hostages if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attempt to rescue them.
In addition to condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to stop the October 7 attack, Alexander urged Israelis to join demonstrations against the government and said that if the Palestinians return It suggests that Hamas is rejecting Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent offer to pay $5 million. Israeli hostages are alive.
In addition to the Hebrew message to the Israelites and their families, Alexander is shown saying in English:
My name is Edan Alexander. I am an American-Israeli currently held captive in the Gaza Strip. As an American, I have always believed in the power of America. And now I'm sending a message. Please use your influence and the full power of America to negotiate for our freedom. Every day here feels like an eternity, and the pain from within grows more and more each day. Please don't make the same mistakes Biden has made. The weapons he sent are now killing us. and an unlawful siege [sic] I'm starving now [us]. I don't want to die like my compatriot Harsh. [Goldberg-Polin].
Hamas tried the same tactic against President Biden, with some success, as the Biden-Harris administration withheld critical weapons and machinery needed by Israel to fight Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ta.
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July, Trump said that if the hostages were not returned by the time he was inaugurated as president in January 2025, those holding American hostages would “pay a very high price.” “It will be,” he promised.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
