In his address to Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump is expected to mention the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Among the attendees will be the parents of the last American captive believed to be alive: Edan Alexander.
Edan, born to Israeli parents and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, was captured during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, at the age of 19 while serving in the Israeli military on the Gaza border. After completing high school, he moved to Israel and enlisted in the military.
Edan was one of many Americans captured or killed during the Hamas attack and was one of the seven American hostages—three alive and four deceased—still held in Gaza when the recent ceasefire began in mid-January.
During the ceasefire period, the other two living Americans, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, were released and returned to Israel. However, Edan was not included in the hostage exchange due to his military status, and there is currently no set timeline for his release.
To draw attention to Edan’s situation, New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, along with New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, will be inviting Edan’s parents, Adi and Yael, to Trump’s speech. Other family members of American hostages, as well as rescued hostage Noa Argamani, will also attend the speech as guests of lawmakers, and Trump is scheduled to meet with a group of freed hostages this week.
Gottheimer emphasized the importance of not forgetting about Edan and stated, “We must ensure that every hostage is brought home. The United States should never abandon any man or woman.”
Gottheimer represents Tenafly, which is home to a significant Israeli and Jewish community, and recently visited Qatar to urge the country’s leaders to assist in Edan’s release. Qatar has been involved in negotiations related to the ceasefire and has hosted Hamas leaders.
In November, Hamas released a video showing Edan speaking to the camera. His parents remain hopeful that they will soon be reunited with their son in Israel.
Yael Alexander expressed her feelings in a podcast by the American Jewish Committee, saying, “We are holding on to hope and praying that he is safe, strong, and will be back with us soon. We are constantly praying for his strength and resilience. We want him to know that he is not alone and that we are coming to bring him home.”
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