The New Jersey representative met with Sheikh Mohammed last week to seek the release of the last remaining American captive alive in Gaza.

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha to appeal for the release of Edan Alexander, the last remaining alive American-Israeli captive in Gaza.

Alexander was taken captive on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israeli army.

“In Qatar, I spent constructive and productive time with the lead negotiators focused on one core objective—to bring home the last living American hostage, my constituent, 21-year-old American Edan Alexander,” Gottheimer said in a statement on his website.

Gottheimer led an official House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence trip to Doha, meeting with Qatari officials and the U.S ​​Embassy teams.

In a statement, Gottheimer said he spoke with Qatari officials about what it would take to reach the second phase of the deal.

“The Qataris are particularly positioned, and have a deep responsibility, to get Hamas to free more hostages like Edan Alexander,” the New Jersey representative said.

“We must also focus on the second phase of the American-backed deal that will see the release of the remaining hostages,” Gottheimer added.

“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I will not rest until every single hostage, including the five remaining Americans, are brought home.”

Four of the American captives, who also hold Israeli citizenship, are believed to be dead.

Alexander is set to be released in the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and captives-prisoner exchange Hamas-Israel ceasefire brokered by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt in January, according to the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Under the first phase of the truce, came into effect on 19 January, 29 Israeli captives and five Thai workers were handed over in exchange of more than 1,000 Palestinian detainees.

The second phase entails the return of the remaining 60 captives in Gaza, as well as a permanent ceasefire with full Israeli withdrawal from the besieged enclave. Many of the remaining captives are male soldiers.

Discussions on the phase have suffered delays and uncertainty, and mediators are facing a March 1 deadline to bridge the divides.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donal Trump’s Special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, shared with CBS that he would be returning to the region to discuss stage two of the deal.

“We will get to phase two, and I’m very focused on that, and I think it’s going to happen,” Witkoff said.

“We’re going to be successful in getting Edan home, I believe.”

Hamas said discussion with Israel about the next steps of the deal are dependent on Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel had delayed the release of over than 600 Palestinians in return for six living and four dead captives, pointing fingers at the Palestinian group’s handover ceremonies.