Edan Alexander’s Release from Hamas: A Family’s Emotional Journey

On Monday, Edan Alexander’s parents shared that they missed eight crucial phone calls informing them of their son’s release by Hamas. They expressed deep emotion, noting that they felt depleted during the moment—“so weak,” as they described it.

The 21-year-old Israeli-American from New Jersey had been held captive for over 19 months, facing unimaginable fear from the terrorist group.

Edan’s father, Addy Alexander, recounted nearly missing the news of his son’s release. He was outside working with blowers when his phone was silent. “The noise was just too loud,” he said.

When Addy finally checked his phone, he found a series of missed calls from Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy during Donald Trump’s presidency, who had been involved in the negotiations. “I saw these eight missed calls and immediately called them back,” he noted, recalling how Witkoff quickly informed him and his wife that Hamas would announce the news in about ten minutes.

Reflecting on their emotional reunion, Edan’s mother, Yael, described nearly falling over while hugging her son due to how weak he had become after 584 days in captivity. “I start running and screaming; I hold him so tight,” she shared. “You’re on my body, and we almost fell because he was so weak.” Yael expressed her overwhelming joy, stating, “I was so excited to meet him and tell him I love him.” It was a moment she called “pure joy.”

In a heartfelt video captured during this reunion, Yael ran to Edan, filled with tears and excitement.

Edan, previously the last living American held hostage by Hamas, had endured extreme hunger and boredom during his time in captivity. He was often confined in cages, bound and trapped within the terrorist network’s underground tunnels. “He’s still weak,” his mother explained, acknowledging the lengthy recovery process ahead.

When asked if Edan was ready to talk about his experiences, Addy emphasized their approach: “We’re not pushing. He’s gone through a lot.”

Edan was just 19 years old when he was taken from a military base in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas border attack.

Hamas announced its decision to release Edan last week as a goodwill gesture towards Trump, aiming to reignite peace talks. Trump expressed hope that this could be a significant step towards ending the ongoing conflict. “I will really move forward with the day’s celebration!” he shared on social media shortly after the release news broke.