- 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.