After 584 days in Hamas captivity, 21-year-old American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander is finally back in Israel. Hamas captured Alexander when he was 19 and released him on Monday following a deal brokered directly between U.S. officials and Hamas. The Red Cross received Alexander in Khan Younis, Gaza, and handed him over to IDF special forces, who escorted him through the Kissufim Crossing into Israeli territory.
Despite his weakened state—he needed help walking—Alexander managed to smile during the handover. Al Jazeera aired a photo showing him alongside Red Cross staff and Hamas operatives just before his release. The IDF confirmed he is undergoing medical evaluations and will soon reunite with his family. Military officials have asked the public to respect the family’s privacy.
Hamas skipped the kind of staged ceremony it conducted during past hostage releases, where it forced hostages to accept a “release certificate” and publicly thank the group. This time, the group handed Alexander over without fanfare.
Alexander’s release came after U.S. negotiators finalized the deal without Israeli involvement, informing Israeli officials only after securing the agreement. U.S. officials reportedly pushed for his release to demonstrate progress on humanitarian issues. Israeli authorities, however, emphasized that their military campaign in Gaza will continue, and they will engage in further negotiations only under terms that align with their operational goals.
Shortly after the release, the White House shared a video capturing the emotional moment Alexander called his mother. American real estate developer Steve Witkoff handed her the phone; upon hearing her son’s voice, she cried, “My beautiful soul, Edan, are you outside?” The clip shows the raw relief and joy of a mother hearing from her son after nearly two years of silence.
According to initial debriefings, Alexander endured brutal conditions during his captivity. He reportedly spent long periods chained inside a cage and suffered severe torture. He is the first—and so far only—male IDF soldier Hamas has released alive.
Alexander was born in Tel Aviv and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. He graduated from high school in 2022 and chose to return to Israel to serve as a lone soldier in the IDF’s elite Golani Brigade. Known for intense front-line combat, the Golani Brigade is one of the Israeli military’s most demanding infantry units.
On the morning of October 7, 2023—the day Hamas launched its massive surprise attack—Alexander called his mother to say he was safe. Just minutes later, Hamas took him hostage. To his younger sister Mika, Edan wasn’t just a soldier—he was her best friend.
Alexander, though requested to meet US President Trump in Qatar during his visit, will not travel to meet him due to his medical condition. His family said Edan needs rest and will instead meet Trump at a later time in the United States. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been in close contact with the Alexanders throughout the ordeal, visited the family at Ichilov Hospital following the soldier’s release. Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke with Edan by phone Tuesday morning, in a call arranged by Witkoff.
As Edan begins the long journey to recovery, U.S. officials are treating his release as a potential turning point in broader hostage negotiations. For now, though, Israel remains focused on its military objectives while Alexander’s family and country celebrate his survival and safe return.
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