Edan Alexander described to his family the daily horrors he endured in Hamas captivity—hunger, lack of water, dire sanitary conditions and constant fear, his mother, Yael Alexander, said in comments Tuesday evening about her son's ordeal, just a day after his release. “Each day felt like an eternity. Every minute was a battle between hope and despair,” she said.
“The most terrifying sound was the war raging above their heads,” she said. “Deafening explosions, whistling rockets, the sounds of collapse, of the earth shaking. Every moment could have been the last.”
Describing the emotional moment of their reunion, she added: “The moment I first hugged my Edani after 584 days, time stopped. My heartbeat returned in sync with his. My breath came back as I felt him in my arms. My family was whole again—but so was the pain.”
She continued: “While the world hears an airstrike, Edan heard hope slipping away. My Edani, you survived hell and came back from it—but what about the hostages still hearing those same terrifying sounds? The hell you endured is the one they’re still living in.”
Yael Alexander thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, his envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, and members of the U.S. administration for their efforts. She also addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid renewed negotiations in Doha.
“In Israel, the heart of the nation is strong, clear and united. An overwhelming majority of the public, from all sectors of society, believes that bringing the hostages home is a supreme moral, Jewish and national duty,” she said. “This is not a matter of left or right, religion or nationality—it’s about human decency.”
“I call on the Israeli government—and Prime Minister Netanyahu in particular—to listen to that voice. The people are united and demand that the return of all hostages be placed above all else,” she said.
Edan, who was freed following U.S.-led negotiations with Hamas with little direct Israeli involvement, shared his first post-freedom moment on social media Tuesday. Holding a beer and wearing sunglasses, he wrote simply: “Home sweet home.”
Alexander, who was freed following a U.S.-brokered deal with Hamas without Israeli involvement, is currently recovering at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. According to Professor Gil Fire, deputy director of Ichilov, Alexander’s condition is “generally stable,” though doctors are still assessing the long-term effects of his 585-day captivity.
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Edan Alexander's first social media post
( Photo: From Edan Alexander's Instagram page)
“The full medical consequences of such prolonged and harsh captivity are still being evaluated,” Fire said. “This process will take several days and we are fully prepared to address any medical need that may arise.” He added that Alexander is staying in a specially prepared facility at the hospital to ensure optimal medical care and privacy for him and his family.
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Alexander’s family announced Tuesday that he does not plan to fly to Qatar for rest and recovery, despite American plans for him to meet with President Donald Trump there. Instead, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff visited him at Ichilov and arranged a video call with both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Edan Alexander is reunited with his family after leaving Gaza
(Video: IDF )
“Edan, it’s so good to hear your voice,” Netanyahu told him during the call. “We are overjoyed—your parents are overjoyed, and all of Israel is rejoicing. This is truly a wonderful moment. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” Alexander replied. “Weak, but slowly I’ll get back to where I was. It’s just a matter of time.”
Netanyahu urged him to embrace his parents and follow the advice of his doctors. “All of Israel is embracing the three of you,” he said. “You’re a free man now, but just listen to the doctors. You sound like you’re on the right track. Welcome home, from the bottom of our hearts.”
First published: 19:01, 05.13.25