Gaza (Quds News Network)- Hamas’s military wing confirmed that it has lost contact with a group guarding American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander after a “direct Israeli bombardment” hit the area where he was being held.
“It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve themselves from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people,” said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Qassam Brigades.
On Saturday, Hamas released a video giving proof of life for Alexander. In the three-minutes-long video, Alexander said that he’s been held in captivity for 551 days, indicating it was filmed recently.
“Three weeks ago, I heard that Hamas was ready to release me. However, you refused and left me here,” he said, addressing the Israeli occupation government.
“Why am I filming my second video today? Why?” On day 421 of his captivity, Hamas published footage of him saying: “It’s time to put an end to this nightmare. Every day feels like an eternity here, and the pain inside grows day by day.”
“Everyone lied to me: my people, the Israeli government, and the American administration, the army and everyone else.”
He also addressed US President Donald Trump: “President Trump, I had believed that you would succeed in getting me out of here alive. Why did you fall victim to Netanyahu’s lies? Why? Tell me why?”
“Our time is running out, and it really is. Every day I think the bombing is getting closer to our heads, and this is really difficult,” he added, referring to Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza.
‘Be prepared’
After its warning over the loss of contact with the group holding Alexander, the military wing of Hamas has released a video directed at captives’ families.
“Be prepared. Soon your children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart by shrapnel from your army’s missiles,” the Qassam Brigades said in the video, which is accompanied by footage from a previous handover of Israeli captives’ remains in coffins to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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“Your leadership has signed the decision to execute the prisoners in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas has previously blamed Israel for the deaths of captives held in Gaza, including as a direct result of assaults. Alexander is believed to be the last living American captive held in Gaza.
