On November 30, 2024, Hamas released a video featuring Edan Alexander, a 20-year-old Israeli-American hostage who has been held in Gaza for 420 days. The video, lasting 3 minutes and 30 seconds, shows Alexander imploring US President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advocate for his release and that of other hostages. This release marks the first time Hamas has shared footage of hostages in several months, highlighting the ongoing tension and humanitarian crisis stemming from the conflict that began with the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The video comes amidst a backdrop of significant casualties, with reports indicating that the Hamas assault resulted in 1,207 deaths in Israel, primarily among civilians. In retaliation, Israeli military actions in Gaza have led to at least 44,382 fatalities, according to the Hamas health ministry, which the UN has deemed reliable. Out of the 251 individuals abducted during the initial attack, 97 are still being held captive, with 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli army.
