President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to prioritize the release of American hostages held by Hamas, declaring that there would be “all hell to pay” if they are not freed before his January 20 inauguration. His comments have brought renewed hope to the families of those captives, who have expressed optimism about Trump’s commitment to their cause.
Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen is among the seven American hostages, praised Trump’s firm stance during an interview on “Fox & Friends.” Chen said the rhetoric sends a message not only to Hamas but also to its financial backers, including nations in the Middle East that have supported the group. “It is unacceptable that Hamas is able to pay tens of millions of dollars monthly… and that needs to stop,” Chen stated.
Chen shared his gratitude for President-elect Trump carrying a heavy “obligation to our cause.”
Adi Alexander, whose son Edan Alexander is also a Hamas captive, expressed similar hope during an earlier interview. He noted that Trump’s personal connection to the issue gives families confidence in his ability to act decisively. “He feels for the hostages, and I don’t think he wants this conflict on his plate on January 20th, and he wants to finish the war,” Alexander said.
Alexander’s family recently received a video of Edan pleading for his release, a rare sign of life that has provided them with hope after their son’s capture 14 months ago. Alexander confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured his family of ongoing negotiations with Hamas and that a potential deal was in the works.
While Alexander hopes the hostages will be freed before President Biden leaves office, he is confident that Trump can resolve the matter if current negotiations falter. “We need strong leadership,” he said, emphasizing the close relationship between Netanyahu and Trump as a critical factor in achieving a resolution.
