Retain American-Israelí Edan Alexander

Tel Aviv – American-Israeli Edan Alexander He was among the first Israeli captives taken to Gaza during the terrorist attack of October 7 of Hamas, orchestrated on October 7, 2023. A week ago, he met with his family in an agreement negotiated by the Trump administration and led by the envoy of the White House, Steve Witkoff.

Alexander and his family have accredited Trump’s team for saving his life, and in an interview sitting with News themezone, the young soldier’s parents told the foreign correspondent Debora Patta about the remarkable moment they knew that Edan would be released, and the moments they have appreciated since then.

Edan Alexander spent 584 days in the captivity of Hamas. After a series of false beginnings and a false hope for his release, when the call finally came from the highest levels of the United States government, his father lost it, eight times.

“Then, we were all at home in Jersey after the brunch of Mother’s Day we had,” said his mother, Yael.

“He was exploiting some leaves,” said his father, Adi. When he left the blade blower, he realized that he had “lost eight phone calls from Steve Witkoff.”

When Adi finally contacted the envoy of the White House, “he told us in 10 minutes from now on, Hamas will announce about the launch of his son tomorrow.”

“I thanked him. Without stopping; “It’s the happiest mother’s day in history!”

“We were, shouting, like crazy with children,” he said. While Yael, Adi and his other two children saw television, came the announcement that Edan would be released the next day, as Witkoff had promised. “And we think, okay, we have to pack! We have to … get to Israel!”

Finally, the meeting with which they had dreamed for more than a year and a half was taking shape.

Adi reserved an immediate flight. Yael had already reserved one for later that day, in a blow of luck, planning to go and be with his family in Israel just after marking Mother’s Day.

None of the parents rested a lot on their flights to Israel.

“I couldn’t sleep the whole flight,” Yael told News themezone. “As you are alert … I couldn’t sit even, you know? It was like full adrenaline, how, ready, being there and recovering Edan, you know?”

As soon as they landed, they were taken to an Israeli military base, where Edan soon arrived after being delivered by Hamas.

“I definitely gave him how the greatest hug in history,” said his mother. “When I got to him, I arrived in full power! We almost fell, because he was weak, and he was very excited, as if he were standing, as trembling, you know, because, Wow, it’s incredible, and I’m screaming, and I’m like, you know, holding it. It was, wow.”

The parents said Edan is still weak, but the doctors clarified for the release of the hospital where he has been treated. He is still receiving medical attention for some minor injuries suffered during the terrorist attack of October 7, that his mother and dad said: “No one took care of those tunnels.”

Even recovering his freedom was a terrible heartbreaking experience.

“The day of liberation was a very busy day for him,” Father Adi told News themezone. “He took eternity. They moved and crawled underneath, and it was a very difficult day for him. He did not sleep all night before that, because he was excited, he did not sleep. It was like, super, super tired, so it took almost two days to decompress from the day of the launch.”

Since then, Edan has given them some details about their captivity, but they are not pressing it.

“He speaks a lot about it, but he is not in a hurry. We are not asking. If you want to say something, you say, and we are not pressing,” said his father. “He went through many things.”

“He is happy to be at home, you know, just to sit with Mika and Roy [his siblings] And just to hang out and be with us and watch television yesterday, “their parents said.

During his long captivity, Edan saw his parents in the news, pleading for his release.

“I think that the fact that he saw us, saw us running, fighting and knocking on each door, kept him hopeful,” said his father, along with “the fact that he was retained with other hostages all together, and not only, he kept him hopeful. And he is just a strong child, you know, strongly and physically strong.”

Hamas has had many of his hostages in tunnels under the Gaza Strip, with many, including Alexander, saying that they never saw daylight.

“I am so pale,” his mother recalled. “I see myself like a vampire!”

Israel has intensified is War in Gazawhere the Ministry of Health led by Hamas says that more than 53,000 people have been killed since the fighting began, including more than 500 only in the last week.

Host families, 58 of which are It is still believed that it is celebrated in Gazaeven about 20 thoughts by Israeli officials to be alive, have gone out regularly to the streets, denouncing the renewed offensive how to put their loved ones at greater risk.

“Edan told us, so when they heard the bombardment, it was very, very worrying, terrifying,” said Adi. “And at some point, one of the tunnels collapsed.”

“He sometimes told us that he was afraid to go to sleep. Because maybe they will bombard this place where he is specifically inside,” added the father. “It was very scary.”

Now again as a family, their thoughts are still very hostages.

“We are still talking about the 58 hostages that are still there,” Yael told News themezone. “Whatever Edan told me about the hostages [who were] With him, you know, during any moment of captivity, I call his moms and dads, and I tell them from the hospital, I have already done it, and I tell them what Edan told me. You know, to give them a bit of the hope that their history can also end soon and with a good ending. “

She knows better than most of the amount of power that hope can provide.

“It’s very important, you know. For me, all the hostages that were launched, it was like, ‘Oh, my God, maybe he saw Edan. Maybe he can tell me something, and I don’t care if it’s not two days, you know. Maybe a year ago I was with Edan, but still, to listen to something about my son, you know, it was very crucial for us.”

At least one of the previously released hostages came to visit Edic at the hospital last week. Companion Sagui Dekel-Chen National of Dual Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was released after 498 days in captivity, said in a statement published Monday by the forum of Families of Hosages that he and Edan were together for a while in captivity.

“Our destiny was intertwined in the most complex situation that one could imagine,” said Dekel-Chen in the statement. “It was important for me coming and welcoming Edan on his return. I know what happened and what he still has ahead. I am very happy for him and his family. I hope I can soon hug all other hostages that also remain behind.”

Yael Alexander said that “it was incredible to see” the two men gathered in freedom. “It was a miracle. This is the victory: see the hostages together.”

When asked what his family knew the world now, while rumors swirled once again about potential progress in high fire conversations despite the increasing Israeli military operations, Adi said the message was simple: act now.

“The urgency,” he told News themezone. “Only the urgency. Our son, he was lucky to leave … listen, you can’t treat agony with more agony. This war should end.”

At the moment, however, there is no end in sight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel intends to continue pressing his offensive in Gaza, to confiscate complete control of the Palestinian territory.

“We are grateful for Steve [Witkoff]for President Trump and for Adam Boehler, “said the relieved father.” Great job. But work is not done. We still have to do. “

“It’s time for them to go home. All of them,” Yael said. “Not in small pieces, alone, to bring everyone back home.”

In:
• Hamas
• Israel
• Loop
• Middle East

Agnes Reau and Leigh Kiniry contributed to this report.