Overview
- On July 3, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Edan Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who spent 584 days in Hamas captivity, in the Oval Office.
- Alexander personally thanked Trump for “saving my life” and recounted how his treatment by Hamas improved after Trump’s 2024 election victory.
- He urged the president to keep pressing for the release of the remaining hostages, warning that continued fighting in Gaza endangers their safety.
- The White House plans to leverage this high-profile meeting to bolster U.S.-led ceasefire and hostage exchange negotiations.
- More than 50 captives still held by Hamas include around 20 believed to be alive, according to Israeli intelligence, as negotiators seek further breakthroughs.