Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has been released by Hamas, after 584 days in captivity. On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, Alexander was transferred into Israeli military custody. This occurred at the southern border crossing at Erez. For his family, his arrival brings a healing homecoming. It is not just the families bringing joyous relief; the Israeli government is celebrating too, closing the books on a decades-long painful saga.
After being freed, Edan Alexander was first brought to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) compound close to Re’im. His father, Adi Alexander, was immediately treated and flown to the base soon after landing in Israel from the United States. His mother was brought in to the facility as well, leading to a tearful reunion.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said there were no words to express his relief and elation at Alexander’s release. He went on to say that he did not shy away from watching the transformation of the young man “from darkness to light…with great emotion.” Herzog greeted Alexander back home with the words, “We waited for you so long.”
Israelis are well acquainted with disheartening and historically drastic changes. This moment was undoubtedly poignant. He underscored that Edan Alexander’s high returning success was, to a large extent, credited to challenging military pressure. He noted the principal diplomatic achievements of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“This is a very emotional moment – Edan Alexander has come home. We embrace him, and we embrace his family. This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by President Trump. This is a winning combination.” – Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu emphasized that the joint work between Israel and the United States was pivotal in getting Alexander freed. Sure enough, Trump repeated these exact sentiments. He voiced his desire for Edan Alexander’s freedom to lead to the freedom of other hostages Hamas continues to hold.
“I could say no, no, no, don’t give us, I wanna pay you $1bn or $400m or whatever it is, or I could say thank you very much.” – Donald Trump
Civil society group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum celebrated Alexander’s release. The organization carefully welcomed the release and looked toward future negotiations that will bring home the remaining hostages.
“We embrace you, Edan, and are so glad you are home. We hope your return is the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that is needed to bring all 58 hostages home.” – Hostages and Missing Families Forum
The release occurs against a backdrop of continued hostilities in the region and with many hostages yet to be returned. Trump used the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to Israel. He pledged to work in close coordination with Israeli officials to free the last hostages and crush Hamas.
President Herzog’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment of relief within Israel as families of other hostages continue to seek answers about their loved ones’ fates. The emotional journey of Edan Alexander’s return hits home with anyone who has experienced this kind of suffering on the streets.
Edan begins to acclimate to life outside of captivity.
Background
His family wishes to continue to believe that his release foreshadows good news in the continuing negotiations with Hamas. The ongoing conflict has led to heightened anxieties among families of hostages, who remain vigilant as they await further developments.
As joyous as Edan’s homecoming is, even greater challenges await Israel—and its leadership—back home. This unusual backdrop naturally raises many questions about hostage negotiations. This leads to the difficult challenge of protecting the safety of citizens while at the same time balancing security needs against hostile actors with the militant groups.