Hamas Claims Loss of Contact with Group Holding American-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander

The Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced today (15/04/2023) that they have ‘lost contact’ with the group holding the American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander following Israeli airstrikes. “We lost contact with the team holding soldier Edan Alexander after an Israeli bombardment hit the area where they were located,” stated a message from Abu Obaida, the representative of the brigades on Telegram. Abu Obaida added that efforts are ongoing to re-establish contact with the group. Alexander is the only living hostage with dual American citizenship and remains captive under Hamas. “The occupying army deliberately tries to relieve the pressure of dual-nationality hostages to continue its ethnic cleansing war against our people,” Obaida further commented. The brigades released a brief video showing their fighters carrying black coffins, captioned, “Soon, your children will return in black coffins.” “Your leaders have signed the execution order for the captives in the Gaza Strip,” the message read. The authenticity of the video could not be verified by the French Agency, nor could the exact timeline of these events be determined. Alexander, captured while serving in an elite unit near Gaza, criticized the Israeli government in the video for his continued detention, expressing his desire to return home for the holidays. Israel is currently celebrating Passover, commemorating the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.