The White House condemned the distressing video of Edan Alexander, released Saturday, calling it a stark demonstration of Hamas’s terrorism.

The disturbing video shows the 20-year-old American-Israeli citizen, an IDF soldier abducted during the October 7th attacks, visibly distressed and in tears.

Alexander appeared thin and pale, explaining in the footage that he had been held captive for over 420 days and forced to deliver messages to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President-elect Trump.

National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett confirmed White House awareness of the video and contact with Alexander’s family.

“The hostage video of American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander is a brutal reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of many nations, including our own,” Savett stated.

“The Gaza conflict would end immediately—and has been preventable for months—if Hamas released the hostages,” Savett continued. “It has refused to do so, but as the President stated last week, we have a crucial opportunity to finalize a deal to secure the hostages’ release, end the war, and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

Savett also assured that President Biden remains dedicated to securing the release of the hostages.

The video’s release followed a recent IDF-Hezbollah agreement in Lebanon. While announcing the deal, Biden acknowledged Hamas’s refusal to negotiate a hostage release.

“Too many Gazan civilians have suffered immensely,” President Biden said from the White House Rose Garden. “Hamas has refused, for months, to negotiate a good-faith ceasefire and a hostage exchange.”

Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi Alexander, recently shared their experiences on “Fox & Friends,” describing a meeting with President-elect Trump.

“I simply explained Edan’s situation, his New Jersey roots,” Yael explained. “I informed the President that individuals rescued in mid-November saw Edan in the tunnels, and he was reassuring others, identifying himself as an American citizen.”

“He tried to calm everyone, saying, ‘You’re civilians, you’ll be released soon. Don’t worry.’ It was reassuring to know he was strong on October 7th and comforting others,” she added.

Reuters and Digital’s Bailee Hill contributed to this report.