A US politician has announced two new proposed bipartisan pieces of legislation on a street named for the last living American hostage liberated from Hamas captivity.
Speaking on October 7 on Edan Alexander Way, in the New Jersey borough of Tenafly, Democratic congressional representative Josh Gottheimer announced that bill one would bar US aid to the United Nations until the global body designates Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organisations, as Washington has long done.
The other bill commemorated the third anniversary of October 7, condemning the Hamas-led terror attacks, honouring hostages and their families, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and calling for a Gaza framework that provides aid while disarming Hamas.
Speaking at the remembrance ceremony, Gottheimer said: “We honour those we lost. We thank the heroes, and we recommit ourselves to the work ahead.”
The congressman, who is Jewish, continued: “We speak the truth about October 7. We stand up to hate, wherever it rears its ugly head.
“And we never stop fighting for a day when Hamas has laid down its arms for good, and Israelis and Palestinians alike can live together in peace.”
Edan Alexander’s parents, Adi Alexander and Yael Alexander, attended the event, as did local officials, rabbis and communal leaders.
“We are here today to remember, to honour and to never forget,” Edan’s mother, Yael Alexander, told attendees.
Her son was freed in May 2025 after 584 days in captivity in Gaza.
“Standing here now, I can hug my son,” she said.
“I can hear his voice. I can sit next to him, and for that, I will be grateful every single day.
“But I know not every family got to have that moment,” she added.
“So today, we remember those who were killed, we remember the hostages, and we remember all the families who are still living with this pain.”
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