Father of American hostage in Gaza reacts to hostage and ceasefire deal

Palestinians and Israelis are celebrating the news of a ceasefire and hostage deal reached on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the final details of the agreement are still being worked out, but that it would lead to the release of some Israeli hostages over the next several weeks and a halt to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

President Joe Biden says the deal will unfold in three phases, with the first phase taking place alongside negotiations that Biden says will lead to the final two phases and the ultimate release of all living hostages.

"There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal, and I'm deeply satisfied this day has come, finally come for the sake of the people of Israel and the families waiting in agony," Biden said Wednesday. "And for the sake of the innocent people in Gaza who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war. The Palestinian people have gone through hell. Too many innocent people have died. Too many communities have been destroyed."

Adi Alexander is the father of 21-year-old hostage Edan Alexander. His son is a dual American-Israeli citizen who was serving with the Israeli military on the Gaza border when he was taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Israel responded to the attack with a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 46,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.

The first phase of the deal is expected to free women, children and elderly captives held by Hamas.

“Unfortunately the young guys [such] as Edan, they won't be on the first phase,” Alexander says. “At this point, everybody that [has been] kept for such a long period of time in the tunnels of Gaza [is] considered to be humanitarian. So, hopefully, they all will be out and we have to stay hopeful and pray.”

This interview was lightly edited for clarity. 

 Hamas released a video of Edan in late November. He spoke in English for part of it. He spoke under duress, urging the Israeli government to end the war and make a peace deal.  What was it like to see that video?

“For us, it was a first sign of life. We haven't seen our son for more than a year, and it was released on Thanksgiving weekend. Other people saw him in the tunnels back in November of 2023. And again, when they entered those tunnels on Oct. 7, he was seen by other released hostages. We are really grateful to receive this video. He was pale, he wasn't himself, but he was alive. That's the important thing.”

 What do you mean when you say he was not himself?

“It's not [the] Edan we know.  He's just a funny guy and a happy guy. And seeing him begging for his life behind this camera, it was tough. It was tough.”

Edan  was 19 when he was taken into captivity, and now he's 21.  He served in an elite Israeli infantry unit when he was taken Oct. 7, 2023. He's a marathon runner. Do you think or do you hope that all that is helping him as he is pushed to his physical and emotional limits right now?

“I really hope so. He [had] just completed his training and he was stationed on that border for a month and a half before he was taken. Other than that, we saw him on that video. He lost a lot of weight, and he lost a lot of muscle mass. But again, he was alive. He survived. And I hope he's surviving now as well.”

 How do you move on day to day? How do you put one foot in front of the other? 

“No parent should experience anything like that. Just imagine your kid being lost in a mall for a couple of hours. And you’re, excuse my language, freaking out. And to have your firstborn son for almost a year and a half in captivity, it's unimaginable trauma. But you have to go on an autopilot every day. Put your T-shirt on — bring them home now. And just keep going.”

 Do you have a sense of why this potential ceasefire deal is happening now? Do you care what the details are about this negotiation?

“I think it's been too long for both parties within this war. And we feel that [President-elect Donald] Trump's effect is actually in effect and using that Jan. 20 as a deadline for the deal, it's a good deadline. It's a good date. No more games. It's enough. Now it's the time to seal this deal.”

 Is it your understanding that this is the political weight of incoming President Donald Trump that is a significant factor here?

“I think actually both administrations in this matter rose above the politics. Trump says that publicly and openly he doesn't want this war to land on his plate on Jan. 20. That was a clear message to all parties, including Israel. And all the latest statements, they indicate that he will be tough with the friends and with the enemies. And we [are] really happy about those statements. We see that everything is being implemented at the right moment and the right time.”

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Lynn Menegon produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Todd Mundt. Allison Hagan adapted it for the web.