Tenafly father’s son is last surviving American hostage held by Hamas
Adi Alexander’s son Edan, an Israeli soldier, was stationed near Gaza when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. Edan is the last surviving American hostage held by Hamas.
The sign in front of Tenafly High School in northeastern New Jersey, from which Edan Alexander graduated just three years ago, has a single demand on its display: “Bring Edan Home Now.”
On May 11, Alexander’s family and friends, his hometown and strangers around the world who followed his tragic story rejoiced at the news they’d been yearning for: The 21-year old New Jersey native, believed to be the last living American hostage captured by Hamas in its 2023 attack on Israel, appears to be coming home.
Hamas said earlier in the day that it would release Alexander ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East later this week. Hours later, Trump confirmed the news in a social media post on X.
“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” Trump’s post said. “This was a step taken in good faith toward the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler told CNN and The New York Times that he was traveling with the parents of Alexander to Israel, where they hoped to reunite with Edan — possibly as early as the afternoon of May 12, Israel time. Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters released a statement on behalf of the family, thanking Trump and his administration for their work
“Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable — news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,” the statement read. “We urge the Israeli government and the negotiating teams: please don’t stop. We hope our son’s release begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families. No hostage should be left behind.”
The report would mark a happy conclusion to months of deadlocked negotiations to secure Alexander’s freedom after being captured by Hamas during its deadly attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump had said Alexander’s release was a top priority, and the administration had taken the unusual step of opening direct talks with Hamas, despite its designation as a terror group.
About Edan Alexander
In interviews and speeches at dozens of rallies held in his name over the past two years, friends and relatives described Alexander as a warm, funny, and athletic teenager. Edan was an “all-American kid” who enjoyed swimming, hanging out with friends, and rooting for the New York Knicks, his father, Adi Alexander, told NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, in an earlier interview.
“This time it appears to be legitimate, and I could not be happier for Edan, his family, friends, our community, and the united global Jewish community,” Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, said in a statement as word of Edan Alexander’s impending release spread. “His safe return home marks another step towards bringing everyone back from the hell they have been subjected to. We are grateful to everyone who made this possible and welcome Edan back with enormous loving arms.”
Edan Alexander was born to Israeli parents, Adi and Yael, in Tel Aviv, but the family moved to the U.S. when he was a baby, first to Maryland, before settling in Tenafly in 2008. Edan Alexander graduated in 2022 from Tenafly High, where he was active in sports leagues and competed for the local swim team. He often traveled to Israel to visit his grandparents and celebrated his bar mitzvah there.
But Edan Alexander surprised his family by returning to his parents’ homeland after high school and volunteering with the Israel Defense Forces. He had no obligation to serve but wanted to help Israel, his father said.
Edan Alexander was stationed in southern Israel when Hamas fighters stormed Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 250 others, including 12 Americans. He was 19 when he was captured while guarding a post near the Gaza border.
“He’s such a brave kid. He volunteered for the IDF because he felt it was the right thing to do,” Adi Alexander said. “He’s very idealistic.”
With Edan Alexander in captivity, his parents accepted a “hometown heroes” award on their son’s behalf in December 2023 from their congressman, Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
A last conversation
Yael Alexander spoke to her son in a morning phone call on the day of his capture. Edan Alexander told her there was a lot of shooting, and he had taken shrapnel to his helmet, but he assured her he was safe. His mother said she told her son she loved him and to protect himself.
That was their final conversation. For days, the family did not know his whereabouts, but Israeli officials informed them a week later that their son had been kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Footage found later showed Edan Alexander surrounded by Hamas fighters as they captured him.
Some released hostages said they had seen Edan Alexander in Hamas’ tunnel networks under Gaza, with one report putting him with a group of Thai workers who had also been captured. “He looked skinny but was in a good mood. He tried to help the Thai workers by translating conversations between them and their captors,” Adi Alexander said in an interview.
Edan Alexander was the last known American hostage from the attack, believed to be still alive. Americans who were killed include Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Judy Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai. About 21 of the remaining 58 hostages in Gaza are believed to be alive.
Hamas released two propaganda videos featuring Edan Alexander in recent months. The latest was released in April, at the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrating the story of Exodus, when the Israelites were liberated from slavery in ancient Egypt by Moses. In the video, a gaunt and emotional Edan Alexander said he was “collapsing physically and mentally” and urged U.S. and Israeli leaders to negotiate his release.
“I want to believe I will return home to celebrate the holidays with you,” he said to his parents.
Several days later, after talks between Israel and Hamas hit an impasse, Hamas announced that it had lost contact with the guards in charge of Edan Alexander. But Adi Alexander remained optimistic about his son’s fate, telling NorthJersey.com that he believed “he’s in the same place and is OK.”
What changed?
The Alexanders urged Trump to negotiate directly with Hamas to reach a deal.
In his recent address at a National Day of Prayer event at the White House, which the Alexanders attended, Trump said, “Adi and Yael, I cannot imagine your pain. But we’re all alongside of you. We stand by you and we’re going to do everything possible in a short period of time.”
Hamas released a statement on May 11, saying that it would release Edan Alexander as part of efforts toward a ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was informed by the U.S. of Hamas’ intention to release Edan as a gesture to the Americans, without any conditions.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said on May 11 that Edan’s release should be the start of a “comprehensive” agreement to secure the release of all the hostages. “President Trump, you’ve given the families of all the hostages hope,” the forum said. “Please complete your mission and bring them all home.”