Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with hostage survivor Edan Alexander, who was released about two weeks ago, and listened to his harrowing account of the conditions he endured while in captivity. The meeting was reported Tuesday by N12 News.
“We slept in an alley—without anyone noticing”
Edan said he stayed strong knowing that his comrades from the Golani Brigade were out there fighting to bring him home. He also spoke with the family of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen and shared details about their time together in captivity.
He recounted how, during his time in Gaza, he was constantly moved between dozens of hideouts—apartments, mosques, and even out on the streets. “Once we didn’t manage to get from one place to another in time,” he said, “so we slept in an alley—without anyone noticing.”
Held alongside Hamas leaders in Gaza’s tunnels
Edan spoke about his extended captivity in Hamas’s tunnel network, where he was held alongside senior Hamas officials, including Yahya Sinwar. He described the unbearable heat during the summer, saying that cans of food would explode repeatedly due to the extreme temperatures. He recalled being forced to drink seawater and eat filthy bread. Over the course of his captivity, he lost about 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
“We must do everything to bring them all home”
Edan shared that he was held together with kidnapped soldier Matan Zangauker, from whom he received a sign of life during their time in captivity. He also described how he occasionally received news through the terrorists—one of whom showed him a photo of his parents meeting with then-U.S. President Donald Trump. That moment made him realize his family was fighting for his release across the world.
Edan called on the public and authorities to continue pushing for the return of the hostages. “Now we must do everything to bring them all home,” he emphasized.
