American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, who was released from Gaza in May after being held hostage for 584 days, is once again wearing the uniform of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and ready to fight Hamas.
“I know the language, I know their culture, I know many things about these demons. I told myself that there is no way I can put this gift aside. I have to use it and give it back,” Alexander said as he spoke at the scene of the Nova Music Festival massacre.
“I wanted [Hamas] to see that I will never break, and that I will return the favor. You gave me hell? I’ll give you hell,” he added.
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Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli national who was taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, returned to his hometown of Tenafly, NJ on June 19. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Alexander, a New Jersey native, also said it was the first time since his release from captivity that he was in uniform near the Gaza border.
The former hostage was addressing a group of more than 1,000 Christian pastors, youth leaders, educators and social media influencers who are reportedly attending a weeklong summit in Israel. The Jerusalem Post. The event, known as the Ambassador Summit 2025, featured several speakers such as US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, meets with former Hamas hostage Edan Alexander. (Shlomi Amsalem)
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Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, Aviva and Keith Siegel, all former Hamas hostages, also addressed the groups. The times of Israel reported that the released hostages also received the “Here Am I Award” from Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion (FOZ) museum in Jerusalem, one of the groups behind the summit.
Alexander also said he would share with the IDF information about Hamas he collected during his captivity.
Edan Alexander speaks to loved ones after his release. (IDF)
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In September, Alexander announced at an event for “Friends of the IDF” that he planned to return to military service. He said the 584 days he spent in captivity were “the hardest days of my life. Days of struggle, pain and separation from my family,” The Times of Israel reported.
“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 doesn’t end with survival. It continues with service.”
At the time of his release, Alexander was the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza.
