Latest news with #TenaflyHighSchool
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Edan Alexander, freed Hamas hostage from NJ, will meet with Trump at White House
His parents have been to the White House on several occasions to plead for his release over the last two years. Now Edan Alexander, the Tenafly resident recently freed from Hamas captivity, is on his way there as well. Alexander, 21, believed to have been the last living American hostage in Gaza, will meet with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on July 3, the White House said. The meeting is expected to take place around noon. 'The President and First Lady have met with many released hostages from Gaza, and they greatly look forward to meeting Edan Alexander and his family in the Oval Office tomorrow," Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement Wednesday. Alexander was among 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. Held captive for 19 months, he was released on May 12 and returned home to New Jersey to a hero's welcome two weeks ago. Hundreds of residents from Tenafly and surrounding towns lined the streets with flags and banners, cheering as he rode through town in a motorcade. Alexander was raised in Bergen County and, after graduating from Tenafly High School, went to Israel, where his parents grew up. He volunteered for the Israeli military and was stationed at a post near Gaza when he was abducted. He was 19 at the time. The other freed Hamas hostages who have met with Trump — including Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani — thanked him for his efforts on their behalf and pleaded for the release of the remaining captives in Gaza. Alexander is expected to do the same. More: What's next for Edan Alexander? NJ hostage is free, but trauma lingers for Hamas captives There are believed to be roughly 50 hostages or their remains still in Gaza; more than half are believed to be deceased. When Alexander was released, Hamas officials described it as a goodwill gesture toward Trump. In a phone conversation from an Israeli hospital after he was freed, the former hostage told the president, "You're the only reason I'm here. You saved my life." Trump told Alexander he was looking forward to meeting the whole family and that it would be "the biggest celebration."
New York Times
14-05-2025
- New York Times
Last U.S. Hostage in Gaza Is Reunited With Parents: ‘We Never Lost Hope'
Edan Alexander was kept hostage underground for 583 days in the tunnels beneath Gaza. After he was released on Monday evening, he stood in a plain white room on an Israeli military base as his mother rushed in. They hugged and cried with joy and wept. Adi Alexander, Edan's father, wanted to join their embrace. Instead he waited down the hall. For more than a year and a half, Mr. Alexander had relied on discipline to survive the ordeal of his son's capture. Of the 251 people Hamas took captive during its attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, 12 had American citizenship. Mr. Alexander's 20-year-old son was the last of the 12 still held hostage. Israeli authorities estimate that 59 hostages remain. Dozens, including four American citizens, are presumed to be dead. 'We never lost hope,' Mr. Alexander said on Wednesday, during an interview after his son's release. 'I could not allow myself to think any other way.' Now, with his son practically right in front of him, Mr. Alexander said that he steeled himself once more. 'I can't go and cry in front in him,' Mr. Alexander recounted. So he paused for a few minutes to let his wife and oldest son hug in the room down the hall. 'I have to stay strong.' Edan Alexander grew up in New Jersey, where he was a star athlete on the Tenafly High School swim team. In 2022, during his senior year, he joined Garin Tzabar, a program run by the Israel Scouts that prepares young people from around the world to join the Israel Defense Forces. He was assigned to the infantry, and he arrived at a small military outpost about two miles from the Gaza border in September 2023, weeks before the Oct. 7 attacks. His time as a prisoner left him physically changed. At some point during Edan's captivity, a tunnel collapsed around him, his father said, injuring Edan's shoulder. He became gaunt from a diet of pita bread, rice, brown beans and black coffee, and his skin grew sallow from lack of sunshine and covered in red welts. 'His whole body has bedbug bites,' Mr. Alexander said. 'His skin is in terrible condition.' In the early days, his captors kept a bag over his head, Mr. Alexander said. Bombs dropped by the Israeli military shook the tunnels 'like an earthquake.' Edan was handcuffed, beaten and interrogated, his father said. But the interrogations were futile, since Edan had been a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces for only 10 months at the time of his capture. 'There was nothing to interrogate him about,' Mr. Alexander said. 'They knew about the arrangement of the I.D.F. much better than he did.' Conditions improved slowly and intermittently. The tunnels were crowded at first. As more hostages were released or died, Mr. Alexander said, Edan had more space. Soon after a cease-fire was declared in mid-January this year, Edan was given beef and lamb to eat. After Donald J. Trump was inaugurated, Edan was moved to a different tunnel with access to a shower and television, Mr. Alexander said. After all this time, Edan's spirit seems unchanged, his father said. During their reunion at the military base, which was recorded in a video that later was released by the I.D.F., Edan cried as he hugged his mother, then shrieked with laughter as Mika, his sister, and Roy, his younger brother, entered the room. 'He was this goofy, funny guy,' when he joined the army, Mr. Alexander said. 'He's still funny. I don't think he's a different person. He is simply tired.' After his family had endured so many months of waiting and fear, Mr. Alexander's release came together quickly. On Sunday at 12:50 p.m., Mr. Alexander was home in Tenafly, N.J., when he looked at his phone. He had missed eight calls from Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East. When they finally connected, Mr. Witkoff told Mr. Alexander to stand next to his wife and to put the phone on speaker. Then he delivered the news: In about 10 minutes, Hamas would announce Edan's release. The family turned on the television in their living room. The news arrived right on time. 'We went absolutely nuts,' Mr. Alexander said. Mr. and Ms. Alexander flew to Israel that afternoon, and by Monday evening they were reunited with Edan at Re'im military base. From there they were transported by helicopter to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, where, Mr. Alexander said, an entire floor was cleared to give Edan and his family privacy. 'We have the whole floor!' Mr. Alexander said. 'The whole family is here. It's amazing.' Soon after they arrived, Edan and Mika took the elevator to the roof deck. He opened a bottle of Corona and posed for a selfie. By Wednesday, Edan was on his phone, FaceTiming with his cousins, his friends from high school and his girlfriend. 'He's doing regular 21-year-old stuff,' Mr. Alexander said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Edan Alexander's family celebrates his upcoming release: 'Greatest gift imaginable'
The sign in front of Tenafly High School in northeastern New Jersey, from which Edan Alexander graduated just three years ago, has a single demand on its display: "Bring Edan Home Now." On May 11, Alexander's family and friends, his hometown and strangers around the world who followed his tragic story rejoiced at the news they'd been yearning for: The 21-year old New Jersey native, believed to be the last living American hostage captured by Hamas in its 2023 attack on Israel, appears to be coming home. Hamas said earlier in the day that it would release Alexander ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East later this week. Hours later, Trump confirmed the news in a social media post on X. "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," Trump's post said. "This was a step taken in good faith toward 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." U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler told CNN and The New York Times that he was traveling with the parents of Alexander to Israel, where they hoped to reunite with Edan — possibly as early as the afternoon of May 12, Israel time. Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters released a statement on behalf of the family, thanking Trump and his administration for their work "Today, on Mother's Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable — news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza," the statement read. "We urge the Israeli government and the negotiating teams: please don't stop. We hope our son's release begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families. No hostage should be left behind." The report would mark a happy conclusion to months of deadlocked negotiations to secure Alexander's freedom after being captured by Hamas during its deadly attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump had said Alexander's release was a top priority, and the administration had taken the unusual step of opening direct talks with Hamas, despite its designation as a terror group. Israel-Hamas war: Hamas will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, group says In interviews and speeches at dozens of rallies held in his name over the past two years, friends and relatives described Alexander as a warm, funny, and athletic teenager. Edan was an "all-American kid" who enjoyed swimming, hanging out with friends, and rooting for the New York Knicks, his father, Adi Alexander, told part of the USA TODAY Network, in an earlier interview. "This time it appears to be legitimate, and I could not be happier for Edan, his family, friends, our community, and the united global Jewish community," Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, said in a statement as word of Edan Alexander's impending release spread. "His safe return home marks another step towards bringing everyone back from the hell they have been subjected to. We are grateful to everyone who made this possible and welcome Edan back with enormous loving arms." Edan Alexander was born to Israeli parents, Adi and Yael, in Tel Aviv, but the family moved to the U.S. when he was a baby, first to Maryland, before settling in Tenafly in 2008. Edan Alexander graduated in 2022 from Tenafly High, where he was active in sports leagues and competed for the local swim team. He often traveled to Israel to visit his grandparents and celebrated his bar mitzvah there. But Edan Alexander surprised his family by returning to his parents' homeland after high school and volunteering with the Israel Defense Forces. He had no obligation to serve but wanted to help Israel, his father said. Edan Alexander was stationed in southern Israel when Hamas fighters stormed Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 250 others, including 12 Americans. He was 19 when he was captured while guarding a post near the Gaza border. "He's such a brave kid. He volunteered for the IDF because he felt it was the right thing to do," Adi Alexander said. "He's very idealistic." With Edan Alexander in captivity, his parents accepted a "hometown heroes" award on their son's behalf in December 2023 from their congressman, Rep. Josh Gottheimer. 'Tears in my eyes': Family remembers Palestinian American teen killed in the West Bank Yael Alexander spoke to her son in a morning phone call on the day of his capture. Edan Alexander told her there was a lot of shooting, and he had taken shrapnel to his helmet, but he assured her he was safe. His mother said she told her son she loved him and to protect himself. That was their final conversation. For days, the family did not know his whereabouts, but Israeli officials informed them a week later that their son had been kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Footage found later showed Edan Alexander surrounded by Hamas fighters as they captured him. Some released hostages said they had seen Edan Alexander in Hamas' tunnel networks under Gaza, with one report putting him with a group of Thai workers who had also been captured. "He looked skinny but was in a good mood. He tried to help the Thai workers by translating conversations between them and their captors," Adi Alexander said in an interview. Edan Alexander was the last known American hostage from the attack, believed to be still alive. Americans who were killed include Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Judy Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai. About 21 of the remaining 58 hostages in Gaza are believed to be alive. Hamas released two propaganda videos featuring Edan Alexander in recent months. The latest was released in April, at the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrating the story of Exodus, when the Israelites were liberated from slavery in ancient Egypt by Moses. In the video, a gaunt and emotional Edan Alexander said he was "collapsing physically and mentally" and urged U.S. and Israeli leaders to negotiate his release. "I want to believe I will return home to celebrate the holidays with you," he said to his parents. Several days later, after talks between Israel and Hamas hit an impasse, Hamas announced that it had lost contact with the guards in charge of Edan Alexander. But Adi Alexander remained optimistic about his son's fate, telling that he believed "he's in the same place and is OK." Friends lost, relatives at odds: How Oct. 7 reshaped lives in the U.S. The Alexanders urged Trump to negotiate directly with Hamas to reach a deal. In his recent address at a National Day of Prayer event at the White House, which the Alexanders attended, Trump said, "Adi and Yael, I cannot imagine your pain. But we're all alongside of you. We stand by you and we're going to do everything possible in a short period of time." Hamas released a statement on May 11, saying that it would release Edan Alexander as part of efforts toward a ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was informed by the U.S. of Hamas' intention to release Edan as a gesture to the Americans, without any conditions. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said on May 11 that Edan's release should be the start of a "comprehensive" agreement to secure the release of all the hostages. "President Trump, you've given the families of all the hostages hope," the forum said. "Please complete your mission and bring them all home." This article originally appeared on Edan Alexander case: Family celebrates his upcoming release by Hamas
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Hamas Releases Last Living American Held Hostage In Gaza
Hamas freed the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza, following talks between the US and the group ahead of a Middle East visit by President Donald Trump. The US engaged with Hamas to help secure the release of Edan Alexander despite Washington designating the Iran-backed group a terrorist organization. Israel appeared to have little say over the negotiations and was informed of the outcome by the US on Sunday evening. Trump, who has hosted Alexander's parents at the White House multiple times, hailed his release as the first of "final steps" needed to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The 21-year-old is the first hostage to be released since a truce in the conflict expired in early March before Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed. Alexander, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and holds dual US-Israeli citizenship, had been serving as a soldier for the Jewish state when he was captured during the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and triggered the war. "He's coming home to his parents, which is really great news to me," Trump said in a social media post. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he was "incredibly relieved and thankful" for Alexander's release. Tammy and I are incredibly relieved and thankful that Tenafly native Edan Alexandar will finally be returning home. For 19 excruciating months, we have all been hoping and praying alongside Edan's family members for his safe release. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 12, 2025 In downtown Tenafly, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate and watch his release on a large screen. The wealthy suburb about a half-hour drive from midtown Manhattan has a large Israeli population, and Alexander joined the Israel Defense Forces after graduating from Tenafly High School in 2022. The crowd on Monday waved Israeli flags, and a large yellow banner read, "WELCOME HOME EDAN." Hamas confirmed it had released Alexander in a statement on Telegram. The IDF later said he was handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who in turn brought him to Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. He was then taken over the border to a reception area in Israel, where he underwent a medical assessment and met with his family. Afterwards, he was transported by helicopter, with his family, to a Tel Aviv hospital for further medical treatment. People waving Israeli flags lined the route to the reception area near Gaza's border, cheering as Alexander's motorcade went past. Hundreds also gathered in Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square," an area where families of hostages and supporters have encamped since the October 2023 attack, to watch news of his release on large screens. Many of them held photographs of loved ones who are still in captivity. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Alexander's release was accomplished thanks to pressure from the Israeli military and President Trump. "This is a winning combination," he said. In March, the US rejected a similar proposal from Hamas for Alexander's release after the two sides talked in Qatar. At the time, Israel made clear its objections to the idea - which many in Israel saw as favoring one hostage over others - and to the US talking with Hamas. Earlier on Monday, Israel said it would send a negotiating team to Qatar on Tuesday as part of the latest efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, prior to a planned military escalation. Ahead of Alexander's release on Monday, Israeli security cabinet minister Eli Cohen said the government was prepared to discuss a plan from Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff under which 10 more hostages would be freed by Hamas. The rest would follow once a deal to end the war is agreed. Israel insists that must include stripping Hamas of power and the militant group disarming. The 58 remaining hostages include four other dual American-Israelis, all of whom have been declared dead. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its offensive, according to health officials in the Hamas-governed strip. Critical aid has been blocked from entering the ravaged enclave since March, with international pressure on Israel growing to allow it to resume. More than 400 Israeli troops have also been killed since the Gaza offensive started.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Last living US hostage released by Hamas before Trump visit
Hamas freed the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza, following talks between the U.S. and the group ahead of a Middle East visit by President Donald Trump. The U.S. engaged with Hamas to help secure the release of Edan Alexander despite Washington designating the Iran-backed group a terrorist organization. Israel appeared to have little say over the negotiations and was informed of the outcome by the U.S. on Sunday evening. Trump, who has hosted Alexander's parents at the White House multiple times, hailed his release as the first of "final steps" needed to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The 21-year-old is the first hostage to be released since a truce in the conflict expired in early March before Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed. Alexander, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and holds dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, had been serving as a soldier for the Jewish state when he was captured during the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and triggered the war. "He's coming home to his parents, which is really great news to me," Trump said in a social media post. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he was "incredibly relieved and thankful" for Alexander's release. In Tenafly, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate and watch his release on a large screen downtown. The wealthy suburb about a half-an-hour drive from midtown Manhattan has a large Israeli population, and Alexander joined the IDF after graduating from Tenafly High School in 2022. The crowd on Monday waved Israeli flags, and a large yellow banner read, "WELCOME HOME EDAN." Citing the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that a hostage had been handed over to the ICRC and "they are on their way toward IDF forces in the Gaza Strip." Hamas confirmed it had released Alexander in a statement on Telegram. In March, the U.S. rejected a similar proposal from Hamas for Alexander's release after the two sides talked in Qatar. At the time, Israel made clear its objections to the idea - which many in Israel saw as favoring one hostage over others - and to the U.S. talking with Hamas. Earlier on Monday, Israel said it would send a negotiating team to Qatar on Tuesday as part of the latest efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, prior to a planned military escalation. Ahead of Alexander's release on Monday, Israeli security cabinet minister Eli Cohen said the government was prepared to discuss a plan from Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff under which 10 more hostages would be freed by Hamas. The rest would follow once a deal to end the war is agreed. Israel insists that must include stripping Hamas of power and the militant group disarming. The 58 remaining hostages include four other dual American-Israelis, all of whom have been declared dead. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its offensive, according to health officials in the Hamas-governed strip. Critical aid has been blocked from entering the ravaged enclave since March, with international pressure on Israel growing to allow it to resume. More than 400 Israeli troops have also been killed since the Gaza offensive started. _____ (With assistance from Fares Akram and Katia Porzecanski.) _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
