Edan Alexander Biography: Edan Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He was born in Israel and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, United States. After completing high school, he moved back to Israel in 2022 to enlist in the Israeli military, demonstrating his commitment to serving his birth nation.
In 2025, Edan Alexander’s age is 21 years old. On October 7, 2023, during a surprise and deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel, his military base near the Gaza border was overrun, and he was captured by Hamas militants. He was one of the youngest Israeli-American soldiers taken hostage.
On May 12, 2025, after being held hostage for 584 days, Edan was released by Hamas. His release was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and footage showed that his first phone call was to his mother, Yael, expressing relief and emotion after nearly two years in captivity.
According to official figures, Hamas captured around 251 people on October 7, 2023. These included Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as foreign nationals from the United States, Thailand, the Philippines, and other countries. The attack was part of a large-scale offensive that killed over 1,200 people in Israel and triggered a full-scale war.
In response, Israel launched a major military campaign named Operation Iron Swords, targeting Hamas infrastructure in Gaza. For approximately 70 days, Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of food, water, medicine, and other humanitarian aid a move criticized by international organizations and some countries as potentially violating international law.
In March 2025, Israel resumed heavy airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
Edan Alexander’s release was the result of intense international diplomatic efforts. It was considered a multi-country diplomatic victory, with the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations playing crucial roles in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
His release symbolized hope for the families of other hostages still in captivity and showed how persistent diplomacy can succeed even during ongoing conflict.
