Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) met with Qatar’s prime minister and other lead negotiators last week to seek the release of Edan Alexander, the last remaining living U.S. hostage in Hamas captivity.
“In Qatar, I spent constructive and productive time with the lead negotiators focused on one core objective—to bring home the last living American hostage, my constituent, 21-year-old American Edan Alexander,” Gottheimer stated. “We must get every hostage home. The United States should never leave any man or woman behind.”
A native of Tenafly, N.J., Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces near Gaza when Hamas captured him on Oct. 7.
Under the terms of the ceasefire-for-hostages deal that the Biden administration negotiated, Alexander would be released in the second phase of the deal along with other soldiers in return for a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” including Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza.
More than 60 hostages remain in captivity, including both living and dead. While Alexander is the sole living U.S. hostage, Hamas continues to hold the corpses of four other Americans.
The Israeli security cabinet agreed to enter phase two negotiations with Hamas last week, but so far, the sides have reportedly only had less formal, preparatory talks.
Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, said in an interview with CBS on Sunday that he would travel to the region on Wednesday and expressed confidence in reaching a deal that would bring Alexander home.
“We will get to phase two, and I’m very focused on that, and I think it’s going to happen,” Witkoff said. “We’re going to be successful in getting Edan home, I believe.”
Gottheimer said in his statement that he spoke with the Qataris about what it would take to reach the second phase of the deal and to “crush Hamas,” so that it can no longer threaten Israel.
“We must also focus on the second phase of the American-backed deal that will see the release of the remaining hostages,” Gottheimer said. “As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I will not rest until every single hostage, including the five remaining Americans, are brought home.”