Hamas claims it lost contact with captors of Edan Alexander after Israeli strike
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The Hamas terror group claims to have lost contact with the terrorists holding hostage soldier Edan Alexander in the Gaza Strip.
“We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct Israeli bombardment targeting their location. We are still trying to reach them,” says Hudhaifa Kahlout — known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida — the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
“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,” Abu Obeida adds.
Alexander, a dual US-Israeli citizen, is a soldier who was stationed near the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7 when he was taken captive by Hamas terrorists. Hamas has published two propaganda videos of Alexander, the latest on Saturday.
The IDF says it does not carry out strikes in areas where it suspects hostages may be held by Hamas. Military officials have repeatedly said that every strike and ground operation in Gaza is carefully planned out in order not to endanger Israeli hostages.
The Times of Israel Community.