US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savitt described on Sunday the video released by Hamas of Israeli-American citizen Aiden Alexander as "a harsh reminder of the movement's terrorism against citizens of multiple countries, including the United States," noting that the administration of President Joe Biden had contacted Alexander's family.

“The war in Gaza would stop tomorrow and the suffering of the people of Gaza would end immediately — and it would have ended months ago — if Hamas agreed to release the hostages,” the White House statement said. “They have refused to do so, but as the President said last week, we have a critical opportunity to make a deal to release the hostages, stop the war, and increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”

“This deal is on the table now,” the statement said. “President Biden and the United States will continue to work around the clock to secure the release of our citizens, including through diplomatic efforts and increasing pressure on Hamas terrorists through sanctions, law enforcement, and other measures. On behalf of the Alexander family and all families of the hostages still held by Hamas, we will never stop our efforts to secure their immediate release.”

On Saturday, Hamas published a video clip showing Alexander speaking in English, addressing messages to US President-elect Donald Trump, and in Hebrew to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Commenting on the video, Alexander's mother, Yael, said at a rally in Tel Aviv that the video "shocked me deeply," and that it was evidence of "the bad situation that Eden and the rest of the hostages are in." She noted that Netanyahu had promised her that a deal to free the hostages was imminent.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu described the video as a "video of violent psychological horror," stressing that Israel is "moving by all means to return the hostages."

The head of the "official camp" party, former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, said on Sunday that 30 hostages held by Palestinian armed factions in the Gaza Strip "lost their lives because we did not make a deal."

"If it is possible to reach an agreement in Lebanon, it is also possible to reach an agreement with the more fragmented Hamas," Gantz said.

It is noteworthy that Gantz's statement came a day after Hamas published a video showing Israeli-American citizen, Aidan Alexander, speaking in English and addressing messages to US President-elect Donald Trump, and in Hebrew to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.