In his speech to Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump is expected to bring up the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
And when he does, in the audience will be the parents of the last American captive thought to still be alive: Edan Alexander.
Alexander, born to Israeli parents and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, was taken captive in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre at age 19 while serving in the Israeli military on the Gaza border. After graduating high school, he moved to Israel and enlisted.
Alexander was one of dozens of Americans captured or killed in Hamas’ attack, and was one of seven American hostages — three living and four dead — to still be held in Gaza when the latest ceasefire began in mid-January.
Over the course of that ceasefire, the two other living Americans, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, were returned to Israel. But Alexander was not included in that hostage deal because he was a soldier— and there is currently no timeline for his release.
In an effort to keep attention on Alexander’s plight, New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, along with New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, will be inviting Alexander’s parents Adi and Yael to Trump’s speech.
Other Israeli hostages due to attend
Other family members of American hostages, in addition to rescued…
