« A divine gift » for his parents – Liberation
This Tuesday, Adi and Yaël Alexander wanted to say a few words to the press, the day after The release of their son 21 years old, Edan, an elite soldier of Israeli-Palestinian nationality captured by Hamas in the bloody attack on October 7, 2023.
“Having Edan at home is wonderful. It is a divine gift to see him tighten Yaël (his mother) in his arms and to know that his suffering is over, and that our family can start to heal ”said the father, Adi Alexander, during a statement to the press in Tel Aviv. His mother, Yaël Alexander, spoke « The time that has stopped » When she hugged her son in her arms after 584 days of captivity.
After discussions with representatives of the United States, Hamas released Edan Alexander on Mondayuntil then the only living hostage having American nationality which was still retained in the Gaza Strip since the massacre perpetrated by the Palestinian movement on October 7, 2023.
Yaël Alexander said he had the « Broken heart » hearing the first testimonies of his son on what he had suffered. « Edan began to tell the indescribable anxiety and the daily fear of not surviving every night, hunger, lack of water, appalling sanitary conditions »she said.
« But the most terrifying sound of all was that of the war that was raging above his head : deafening explosions, whistles of missiles, sounds of collapse, destruction, and the earth that trembles. Every moment could be the last one ”she added.
The state of health of the young man, who was 21 years old in captivity, is « stable » According to the Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv, where he was admitted after his release – and where he was born. « The complete medical consequences of prolonged captivity in unbearable conditions will continue to be assessed by our teams in the coming days »said Gil Fire, medical manager of the hospital in another statement to the press.
The parents thanked US President Donald Trump and called for the release of all the hostages still retained captive in the Gaza Strip. On 251 people kidnapped in Israel During the attack on October 7, 57 are now still retained in Gaza, 34 of which were declared dead by the Israeli army.
Hamas also retains the body of an Israeli soldier killed during a previous war in Palestinian territory in 2014.
