After nearly two years in Hamas captivity—a total of 584 days—Edan Alexander has returned to a place of warmth and memory: the home of his grandmother Verda in Tel Aviv. Once the setting of Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations, the house had become a command center for his release campaign. Now, it is once again a home.
An Enormous Sense of Relief
Edan’s parents, Yael and Adi Alexander, expressed immense relief following his discharge from Ichilov Hospital on Friday: “Our Edani is home. Home at Grandma Verda’s house, where he used to spend Shabbat meals as a lone soldier—and where we celebrated so many holidays as a united family,” they said.
“Over the past year and a half, this loving home turned into a war room—Verda leading from here in Israel, and we from both here and the U.S., fighting for Idan’s return and for all the hostages.”
“Today, we finally took down Edan’s hostage photo from the wall—with a deep sigh of relief and overwhelming gratitude.”
Brothers in Arms: Reunions and Remembrance
The family shared that Edan has already reunited with his comrades from his IDF unit, rekindling a bond forged through shared battle—and loss: “They stood by him as brothers in arms, remembering the friends who fell on that dark day and honoring them still.”
Staying in Israel, Beginning the Healing Process
The Alexanders announced that for now, they will remain in Israel as Edan begins a comprehensive rehabilitation process, both physically and emotionally: “He will receive medical care for injuries he sustained on October 7 that went untreated until now, including damage to his hands from a tunnel collapse,” they said.
Our Struggle May Be Over—But It Isn’t Finished
“We want to thank everyone—on behalf of Edan and our entire family—for the support, the prayers, and the hope over these 17 long months,” the family wrote.
“Our personal struggle may be over, but the larger fight continues. We stand with our new family—the families of the remaining hostages. There are still 58 people to bring home. This mission isn’t over.”
They concluded with a heartfelt wish: “We send love to all of Israel and to Jewish communities across the world. May this be a peaceful Shabbat—and may we soon hear good news.”
