“You are strong. You are safe. You are home. We’ll see each other soon. I love you,” Yael Alexander said to her son, an Israel Defense Forces staff sergeant who was held captive by the bloodthirsty terror group for more than 19 months.
Loved ones could be heard squealing with jubilation, exclaiming “Oh my God!”as the overjoyed mom was handed the cell phone with her beloved Edan on the line.
“You’re out, my dear. That’s it. I’m here waiting for you. Everything’s ok, you’re ok. You’re safe and you’re home, we’re going to meet soon. I love you my dear,” she said, according to a translation provided by Israel Defense Forces and shared on social media.
Yael had received no indication her son was still alive, the last time she saw his face was during a heartless propaganda video released by Hamas last month at the start of Passover, which mocked the freedom-themed Jewish holiday.
She made a plea for his safe return on NewsNation’s “Morning in America with Hena Doba” on Mother’s Day.
“We saw our son screaming and yelling and saying very tough things,” Alexander said. “Since that clip, I’m not sleeping. I’m worried sick. And I just hope that he knows that everyone loves him, everyone cares about him and we are doing everything that we can to bring him home.”
“You’re out, my dear. That’s it. I’m here waiting for you. Everything’s ok, you’re ok. You’re safe and you’re home, we’re going to meet soon. I love you my dear,” she said, according to a translation provided by Israel Defense Forces and shared on social media.
Yael had received no indication her son was still alive, the last time she saw his face was during a heartless propaganda video released by Hamas last month at the start of Passover, which mocked the freedom-themed Jewish holiday.
She made a plea for his safe return on NewsNation’s “Morning in America with Hena Doba” on Mother’s Day.
“We saw our son screaming and yelling and saying very tough things,”
Alexander said. “Since that clip, I’m not sleeping. I’m worried sick.
And I just hope that he knows that everyone loves him, everyone cares
about him and we are doing everything that we can to bring him home.”
Edan, an Israeli-American citizen from New Jersey, was turned over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces before crossing back into the Jewish state Monday night, according to the IDF.
He was the last living American held captive by Hamas since they seized 255 hostages during the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack.
Although the state of his health wasn’t immediately known, the Kan public broadcaster reported he had been kept handcuffed in a cage and severely tortured during his 584 day imprisonment.
He will soon be brought to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for medical treatment.
Photos showed Edan seated on a military helicopter holding aloft a small dry erase board with “Thank you President Trump” written in green ink.
The president celebrated the news of Edan’s release in a post on Truth Social Monday.
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“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” he wrote.
“I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,” he said, touting the ongoing negotiations to bring an end to the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones,” he said.
Some 58 hostages remain in Hamas captivity since the start of the war, which began when Hamas launched a vicious surprise attack that killed more than 1,200 people. See photos and video here.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.
