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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.
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