Edan Alexander’s mother says PM told her ‘conditions are ripe to free all the hostages’

Yael Alexander, mother of Hamas-held hostage Edan, speaks in Hostages Square hours after Hamas published a propaganda video showing her son.

She says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised her in a phone call an hour ago that “the conditions are ripe” to bring all the hostages home.

“This is not a Hollywood movie,” says Yael Alexander after the video plays. “This is the bad movie we have been living for 421 days since October 7.”

After 421 days “when I hadn’t heard my Edan,” she says, “the film we received this afternoon shook me and my family. Along with the hope it gives, it also shows how hard are the conditions of Edan and the other hostages. And how they are shouting and pleading that we save them. Now.”

Yael says her son “speaks for all the living hostages who cannot make their voices heard. And this voice must echo, and shake up everybody.”

“My beloved Edan,” she says, addressing him directly, “I want to tell you that after your plea, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called me an hour ago, gave me strength, and promised me that now, after there is an arrangement in Lebanon, the conditions are ripe to free you all and bring you all back home.”

Many in the audience jeer at the premier’s name, but are motioned to stop.

She adds: “Edan, that is also the will of the people. The people are with you and understand that [the return of you all] is total victory.”

Yael Alexander then urges Netanyahu, “in my name and that of my family and of all of Israel, … to stand by your promise to me. Because all eyes are now on you, hoping that you will make the courageous decision. And especially be strong in the face of those in your government who oppose a deal, because most of the people support you,” she says, in an apparent reference to far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

“Be strong,” she urges Netanyahu, “like my Edan who has survived there for so long. Be strong.”

Varda Ben Baruch, the hostage’s grandmother, who is observant, says she didn’t hear about the video of her grandson until after the Sabbath ended at sundown.

Paraphrasing Havdala, the prayer recited at the Sabbath’s end, she pleads for her grandson’s safety.

She also addresses Netanyahu: “Be brave. Be strong. Don’t be afraid to do anything that will bring home all the hostages and our Edan.”

She leads the crowd in a chant: “A deal — now!”