After enduring over 600 days as a hostage, Edan Alexander is finally set to be back on American soil, arriving in his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, this afternoon. The 21-year-old Israeli-American was captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, but was released last month in a deal eased by the Trump administration. Alexander is recognized as the last living U.S. citizen previously held in the Gaza strife, according to the New York Post.
Excitement is palpable among the Tenafly community as they prepare to wholeheartedly welcome him back. Supporters and the local residents are expected to line the streets to greet Alexander upon his arrival. His homecoming not only signifies an end to his captivity but stands to symbolize a reuniting of a community with one of its own. As elaborated in a statement obtained by CBS News New York, family members, friends, and supporters had last month gathered to watch a livestream of his release. Alexander's ordeal received wide attention, with his history as a former Tenafly High School graduate that moved to Israel for military service only intensifying the connection felt by locals.
During his time as a hostage, Alexander was reportedly held in underground tunnels without exposure to daylight. This was painfully narrated by his parents who had shared the harrowing details with CBS News New York, in previous interviews. The long-standing effort to safely recover Alexander involves a collaborative plea for his release, a plea that extends beyond ethnic and religious lines, rooting itself in the universal longing for the safe return of a loved one.
Recognition of this broader communal bond over Alexander's return was beautifully captured in comments made by Tenafly resident Orly Chen, who told CBS News New York, "Edan's return is the return of everybody's child. Every organization. Every family. Every Israeli family. And not Israeli. Not Jewish. Everyone in this community was part of what Edan was going through and was hoping for today to come."
Meanwhile, the Alexander family's rabbi, Yitzchak Gershovitz, shared a heartfelt message of relief, saying, "I want to tell you, Edan, we love you and we are so happy you're back," in a sentiment attributed to the New York Post.
