Latest news with #OrlyChen
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Residents line streets to welcome home Israeli-American hostage
Edan Alexander, an American-born Israeli soldier and believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, has returned home to New Jersey. Hundreds of cheering supporters, many waving Israeli flags and holding 'Welcome Home Edan' signs, lined the streets of Tenafly to greet his passing vehicle. A smiling Mr Alexander held his arm out the passenger-side window to wave and touch the hands of people in the crowd. The militant group Hamas released Mr Alexander, 21, on May 12 after 584 days. He has been in Israel since he was freed. Thursday marked his first trip home to Tenafly, the suburb of New York City where he grew up and where his family still lives. Mr Alexander was 19 when militants stormed his base in Israel and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. He was among the 251 people taken hostage in Hamas' attack on October 7 2023. Mr Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school and enlisted in the military. Since his capture, there's been a huge outpouring of support for him in Tenafly, located in a county with a large Jewish and Israeli-American population. The community held regular walks to raise awareness about him and the other hostages. Many gathered in May to celebrate his release. 'Edan's return is the return of everybody's child, every organisation, every family, every Israeli family, and non-Israeli, and non-Jews,' Orly Chen, a Tenafly resident, told CBS News New York on Thursday.
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Washington Post
Residents lined the streets of a New Jersey town to welcome home Israeli-American hostage
TENAFLY, NJ — Edan Alexander , an American-born Israeli soldier and believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, has returned home to New Jersey. Hundreds of cheering supporters, many waving Israeli flags and holding 'Welcome Home Edan' signs, lined the streets of Tenafly on Thursday to greet his passing vehicle. A smiling Alexander held his arm out the passenger side window to wave and touch the hands of people in the crowd. The militant group Hamas released Alexander , 21, on May 12 after 584 days. Alexander has been in Israel since he was freed. Thursday marked his first trip home to Tenafly, the suburb of New York City where he grew up and where his family still lives. Alexander was 19 when militants stormed his base in Israel and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. He was among the 251 people taken hostage in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school and enlisted in the military. Since his capture, there's been a huge outpouring of support for Alexander in Tenafly, located in a county with a large Jewish and Israeli-American population. The community held regular walks to raise awareness about him and the other hostages. Many gathered in May to celebrate Alexander's release. 'Idan's return is the return of everybody's child, every organization, every family, every Israeli family, and non-Israeli, and non-Jews,' Orly Chen, a Tenafly resident, told CBS News New York on Thursday.
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Associated Press
Residents lined the streets of a New Jersey town to welcome home Israeli-American hostage
TENAFLY, NJ (AP) — Edan Alexander , an American-born Israeli soldier and believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, has returned home to New Jersey. Hundreds of cheering supporters, many waving Israeli flags and holding 'Welcome Home Edan' signs, lined the streets of Tenafly on Thursday to greet his passing vehicle. A smiling Alexander held his arm out the passenger side window to wave and touch the hands of people in the crowd. The militant group Hamas released Alexander , 21, on May 12 after 584 days. Alexander has been in Israel since he was freed. Thursday marked his first trip home to Tenafly, the suburb of New York City where he grew up and where his family still lives. Alexander was 19 when militants stormed his base in Israel and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. He was among the 251 people taken hostage in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school and enlisted in the military. Since his capture, there's been a huge outpouring of support for Alexander in Tenafly, located in a county with a large Jewish and Israeli-American population. The community held regular walks to raise awareness about him and the other hostages. Many gathered in May to celebrate Alexander's release. 'Idan's return is the return of everybody's child, every organization, every family, every Israeli family, and non-Israeli, and non-Jews,' Orly Chen, a Tenafly resident, told CBS News New York on Thursday.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- The Independent
Residents lined the streets of a New Jersey town to welcome home Israeli-American hostage
Edan Alexander, an American-born Israeli soldier and believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, has returned home to New Jersey. Hundreds of cheering supporters, many waving Israeli flags and holding 'Welcome Home Edan' signs, lined the streets of Tenafly on Thursday to greet his passing vehicle. A smiling Alexander held his arm out the passenger side window to wave and touch the hands of people in the crowd. The militant group Hamas released Alexander, 21, on May 12 after 584 days. Alexander has been in Israel since he was freed. Thursday marked his first trip home to Tenafly, the suburb of New York City where he grew up and where his family still lives. Alexander was 19 when militants stormed his base in Israel and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. He was among the 251 people taken hostage in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school and enlisted in the military. Since his capture, there's been a huge outpouring of support for Alexander in Tenafly, located in a county with a large Jewish and Israeli-American population. The community held regular walks to raise awareness about him and the other hostages. Many gathered in May to celebrate Alexander's release. 'Idan's return is the return of everybody's child, every organization, every family, every Israeli family, and non-Israeli, and non-Jews,' Orly Chen, a Tenafly resident, told CBS News New York on Thursday.
CBS News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Edan Alexander expected back in Tenafly, N.J. today as residents prepare big welcome home
Edan Alexander, an American taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, is finally returning to his hometown in New Jersey. He's expected to arrive back in Tenafly, N.J. Thursday afternoon. Residents are preparing a big welcome. CBS News New York will have special coverage of Alexander's return home. Alexander spent nearly 600 days in captivity. Tenafly, where he grew up, will be welcoming him back with people lining the streets to pay tribute to his victory. After he graduated from high school, Alexander moved to Israel to serve in the Israeli military. On Oct. 7, Alexander, who was 19 at the time, was abducted by Hamas. He had been stationed at the border when he was taken hostage. Alexander was one 251 people kidnapped after the attack. After more than a year in captivity, Alexander was released on May 12 in a deal brokered by the Trump administration. Those who know Alexander say he was part of the Tenafly community and the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. "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," Tenafly resident Orly Chen said. "We're so happy and relieved and it's a closure for a long time battle to bring Edan back and fighting for Edan's return," Madi Oelsner of the Kaplen JCC said. "I don't think that Edan or his family are in time of celebrations because there are 53 hostages that are still in Gaza." Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters gathered in his hometown last month to watch a livestream of Alexander's release. At the time, his parents told CBS News their son had been held in underground tunnels, never seeing daylight after being dragged into Gaza. Alexander is believed to be the last living American citizen that was held in Gaza. Bergen County, where Tenafly is located, has one of the largest Israeli-Jewish American communities outside of a major city. "I want to tell you, Edan, we love you and we are so happy you're back," said Yitzchak Gershovitz, the Alexander family's rabbi. "This is our brother. Our son returns home and our hearts are full of joy and happiness. There's only one word, it's a miracle of God."
