Last U.S. hostage Edan Alexander to return to Israel next month to rejoin IDF

Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas, announced at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces fundraiser in Manhattan on Thursday that he will return to Israel next month to rejoin the Israeli Defense Forces. The 21-year-old, who has Israeli parents but grew up in northern New Jersey, told the more than 1,000 attendees that “Next month, God willing, I will return to Israel” and that serving in the IDF is “one of the greatest honors of my life.” He added that he would once again put on the IDF uniform and “proudly serve alongside my brothers.”

Alexander was among a dozen Americans taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, and he remained in Gaza for 584 days before his release in May. He traveled to Israel in 2023 to fulfill his mandatory military service with the IDF and was kidnapped while attending the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, a trance music festival. During his captivity, Hamas’ military wing used him in propaganda videos and held him in tunnels, with periodic beatings cited by his supporters. In remarks reviewed by northjersey.com, Alexander said he fought “every single day to survive in captivity” and that those days were the hardest of his life—marked by separation from his family. He also stressed that others remain in captivity and that the fight is not over until all are home. “I dream of the day when every hostage will walk free,” he said, adding a Hebrew phrase, “Until victory,” as he spoke at the podium.

In June, Alexander returned to Tenafly, New Jersey, where hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets to greet him. He later met with former President Donald Trump at the White House. The Thursday fundraiser for the Friends of the Israel Defense Force, a nonprofit that supports Israeli soldiers by providing emergency medical supplies, mental health treatment for veterans, and assistance for the families of the fallen, drew an audience of more than 1,000 people, according to organizers. The event underscored ongoing support for Israeli forces and the broader effort to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Alexander’s release in May marked the end of a lengthy captivity that drew international attention. He was the last of the U.S. hostages still in Hamas custody, and his release came amid negotiations and political signaling from multiple stakeholders in the United States and Israel. He was photographed reuniting with his family at a military facility near the Gaza border community of Re’im, an image that circulated as a symbol of resilience and the continuing demand for accountability and justice for those held by Hamas.

The broader conflict in the region remains unsettled, with American and Israeli officials reiterating calls for all hostages to be freed and for sustained international support for humanitarian relief and security measures in the area. Alexander’s determination to return to service after his ordeal has been interpreted by supporters as a personal testament to perseverance and commitment to the defense of Israel.