Hostage Edan Alexander Returned from Captivity
After 584 days of being held hostage by Hamas, Edan Alexander has been returned to his family.
American Israeli hostage Edan Alexander reunited with his parents in Israel on May 12, after being released by Hamas in a gesture of goodwill to the U.S., as President Donald Trump was set to embark on a visit to the Middle East.
Alexander, the last living hostage with American citizenship, was freed following direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas in Qatar that were aimed at securing his release. The negotiations sidelined Israeli officials, who were updated only after the deal was struck.
After arriving in Israel, the 21-year-old Lone Soldier embraced his teary-eyed parents, Yael and Adi, and his siblings, at an army facility near the Gaza border community of Re’im, following 584 days in Hamas captivity.
“Look how massive this kid is!” Alexander shouted, as he hugged his little brother.
Hamas handed Alexander over to Red Cross officials in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis at around 6 p.m., without staging a propaganda ceremony, as was typical of the terror group in past hostage releases.
According to Israeli news outlets, a Red Cross official said Alexander’s “physical condition was poor, but he is smiling,” and that he required assistance getting into the car.
Alexander told soldiers who received him in the Strip that Hamas subjected him to harsh torture for weeks on end and kept him in a cage over a long period of time with his hands and feet bound. He was apparently held in a Hamas tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, alongside other hostages.
Alexander’s mother flew with relatives from the U.S. to Israel with American hostage envoy Adam Boehler, leaving on May 11 in order to arrive in time for her son’s release. His father arrived separately on May 12.
“It is a great relief to see Edan Alexander go home after 584 days of agony, torture, and darkness. We are thinking of Edan, his family and all of those who fought for his return,” said Eytan Davidson, Anti-Defamation League Southeast Regional Director. “He is the first hostage to return home in 79 days. Fifty-eight hostages remain in captivity, and they cannot afford to wait another 79 days. Hamas’ depravity knows no bounds, and its evil is on full display for the world to see. We will not stop fighting for the release of all 58 remaining hostages who were savagely kidnapped on Oct. 7.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff released the following statement: “I am deeply moved to see Edan Alexander reunited with his loved ones today after his unimaginable ordeal in Hamas captivity. Seeing Edan reunite in his parents’ arms is a powerful moment, one that reminds us of the need to secure the release of all who remain held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. As a member of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, I will remain deeply engaged in support of U.S. intelligence and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of those who remain in the captivity of Hamas terrorists.”
Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, released the following statement: “After 584 days, Edan Alexander is finally back in the arms of his family. It’s a moment of relief, but it’s also a stark reminder that 58 hostages remain in the hands of a brutal terror group. We cannot allow them to be forgotten. We must keep fighting until they’re all home.”
comments