- Edan
Alexander spent 584 days in Gaza. - Recently
returned to the Israel Defense Forces. - His
time marked by conflict and service.
Alexander, a native of New Jersey, added that he was in
uniform close to the Gaza border for the first time since being freed from
captivity.
“I know the language, I know their culture, I know a
lot of things about these demons.
I just told myself there’s no way I’ll take
this present and put it aside. I have to use it and return it,”
Alexander said while speaking at the site of the Nova music festival massacre.
“I wanted [Hamas] to see I’ll never break, and that
I’ll return the favor. You gave me hell? I’ll give you hell,”
he
added.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the former hostage was
speaking to further than 1,000 Christian pastors, youth leaders, preceptors,
and social media influencers who were in Israel for a week-long peak. The
Ambassador Summit 2025 featured a number of speakers, including Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The groups were also addressed by former Hamas hostages
Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, and Aviva and Keith Siegel.
According to the Times of Israel, Mike Evans, the founder
of the Friends of Zion (FOZ) museum in Jerusalem, one of the organizations
sponsoring the summit, also presented the “Here Am I Award” to the
freed prisoners.
Additionally, Alexander promised to provide the IDF with
anything he learned about Hamas while in captivity.
At a “Friends of the IDF” gathering in September,
Alexander declared his intention to rejoin the military. He described the 584
days he was held captive as
“the hardest days of my life.”
Days of
hardship, suffering, and being apart from my family,” the Times of Israel
said.
“Next month, God willing, I will return to Israel. I
will once again, put on the IDF uniform, and I will proudly serve alongside my
brothers,”
Alexander said, according to The Times of Israel.
“My
story does not end with survival. It continues with service.”
Alexander was the final American citizen still in captivity
in Gaza at the time of his release.
What role will he have on returning to the IDF?
Edan Alexander renewed combat duties with the Golani Brigade
near the Gaza border, using intelligence gained during 584 days in Hamas prison
including their language, culture, and tactics to” close the circle”
and complete his service, promoted to Sergeant First Class upon return in late
October 2025.
Alexander appeared in livery at the Nova jubilee point (his
hijacking position) on December 3, 2025, covenanting to” give hell
back” to Hamas; he cited surviving an airstrike and propinquity to leaders
like Yahya Sinwar as means for frontline operations, rejecting early discharge
after 10 months served pre-captivity.
His reenlistment symbolizes adaptability amid ongoing Gaza
operations against Hamas remnants, with officers praising his resoluteness as
emphasizing public commitment despite 48 hostages remaining; mama Yael supports
it for his mending.
