Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli dual citizen recently freed from captivity in Gaza, reportedly met with President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Thursday, expressing gratitude for what he described as Trump’s pivotal role in his release and urging him to secure the freedom of the dozens of hostages who remain held by Hamas.
Alexander, a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, was abducted during the October 2023 attacks and spent nearly 600 days in captivity.
During his time in Gaza, he said he was subjected to torture and prolonged confinement underground.
In remarks following the meeting, Alexander said he believed his release and improved treatment during the final months of captivity were linked to Trump’s election victory last fall.
“I came to thank the person responsible for saving my life,” Alexander said.
Flanked by his parents in the Oval Office, he appealed to Trump to work toward freeing the estimated 50 hostages still believed to be alive, warning that continued fighting between Israel and Hamas jeopardizes their safety.
Trump, who has made high-profile hostage negotiations a hallmark of his foreign policy, has recently tasked several envoys with exploring a new cease-fire framework.
A proposed 60-day truce would involve a phased release of Israeli and American captives in exchange for a temporary halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Hamas has indicated cautious interest, though the details remain in flux.
Alexander’s visit comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expected in Washington next week, Trump’s team is pressing for momentum on a broader deal that could revive stalled negotiations and ease humanitarian conditions in the region.
The president has framed the recent hostage releases as a sign of renewed American strength, contrasting them with what he describes as a period of diplomatic stagnation under the Biden administration.
He repeated his assertion that Hamas released Alexander “as a good faith gesture” following the November election, arguing that the militant group feared renewed pressure under his leadership.
Alexander, visibly emotional during his remarks, said he remained hopeful that more lives could be saved. “There are still mothers waiting for their sons, daughters hoping for a call,” he said. “This can’t be the end.”
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