The father of an American hostage kidnapped by Hamas is holding out hope his son will be released — and is “100% confident” President Trump will continue pressing Israel to keep the cease-fire deal afloat.
Adi Alexander, whose son Edan, 21, is among the three American Israelis kidnapped by Hamas and still believed to be alive, celebrated the release of seven hostages this week but stressed the urgency to free every remaining hostage in Gaza.
“The job is still not done — it’s still not done for the American hostages,” the New Jersey resident told The Post.
“Our American mediators or negotiators, they need to push forward to get our son back.”
Under the first phase of the cease-fire deal in effect, a total of 33 women, elders and ill hostages will be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Two Americans are slated to be freed under the cease-fire deal’s first phase.
Keith Siegel, 65, an occupational therapist from North Carolina, will be released on Day 14 of the truce, a senior administration official and a diplomatic official told NBC News, followed by father of three Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, who was injured and kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
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The cease-fire agreement stipulated that on Day 16 of the six-week truce, Israel and Hamas will begin hashing out the details for the second phase, which is when Edan Alexander, an IDF soldier kidnapped by the terror group on Oct. 7, 2023, would be released.
The looming negotiations are rife with details that could turn into sticking points for both sides and potentially lead to the deal’s collapse, but Alexander’s father believes Trump will successfully put pressure on Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure the cease-fire deal makes it to the next stages.
“The president stated privately and publicly he doesn’t want the war to continue,” Adi Alexander said.
“He’s now in office, [and] this pressure will be continued from the White House. I’m 100% confident about it.”
Four other American captives — Omer Neutra, Itay Chen and Gadi and Judi Haggai — were confirmed dead by Israel and their remains would be released during the cease-fire deal’s third and final stage.
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