‘You are safe, you are home’: Edan Alexander back in Israel after 584 days in captivity

May 13, 2025 by Pesach Benson
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Staff Sgt. Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, was freed after 584 days in Hamas captivity, returning to Israel in an emotional moment that briefly paused fighting in Gaza.

The selfie with the 584 days delayed exposure

In a video shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, Alexander’s mother, Yael, is heard speaking to him for the first time since his release. “You are strong. You are safe. You are home. We’ll see each other soon. I love you,” she told her son by phone.

Alexander was not subjected to the public parade experienced by other hostages.

YouTube player

After reuniting with his family and an initial medical checkup near the Gaza border, Alexander was being transferred to Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Alexander’s return a “very emotional moment,” crediting “military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump” for securing the release, which he described as a “winning combination.”

Alexander, a 21-year-old IDF soldier from the Golani Brigade, was abducted on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’s attack on Israel. Serving as a lone soldier without immediate family in Israel, he was captured at the Kissufim military post near the Gaza border after volunteering to stay on duty while others were on leave.

US Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Alexander’s home state, said he was “overjoyed” at the news, urging the immediate release of all other hostages, “living or dead,” and called for a recommitment to a Gaza ceasefire and expanded humanitarian aid.

The Israeli Air Force temporarily suspended operations in Gaza to allow for Alexander’s safe transfer.

Alexander’s release was celebrated by other hostage families.

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin — whose son Hersh was murdered in Hamas captivity — said, “In 584 days, we’ve come to know and love the Alexander family,” said Jon Polin, whose son, Hersh, was murdered in Hamas captivity. “Today we are celebrating with all of you.”

Rachel Goldberg-Polin added, “Most important, Edan, we’ve grown to love you without ever having met you. We’re so relieved that you are home, welcome home.” Yet, she reminded the public, “We have 58 more people that have to come home.”

Kibbutz Nir Oz, from which many hostages were taken, also welcomed the news but issued a sombre statement highlighting ongoing anguish. “Every abductee who returns is a great light in the darkness we find ourselves in,” the kibbutz said in a statement. However, it added, “It is difficult to ignore the difficult message… An abductee with an American passport is given priority, while the other 58 abductees are left behind—14 of whom are members of the Nir Oz community.”

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 58 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.

 

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