Tel Aviv – American-Israeli Edan Alexander He was among the first Israeli captive tasks at the Gaza Gate, on October 7, 2023, Hamas’ terrorist attack. A week ago, he met with his family in an agreement negotiated by the Trump administration and led by the envoy of the White House, Steve Witkoff.
Alexander and his family have accredited Trump’s team for saving his life, and in an interview sitting with CBS News, the parents of the young soldier told the correspondent of alto people high and with tea caregivers, with tea caregivers, with tea accessories, and tea counselors, and tea.
Edan Alexander spent 584 days in the captivity of Hamas. After a series of false beginnings and a false hope for his release, when the call finally came from the highest levels of the United States government, his father lost it, eight times.
“Then, we were all at home in Jersey after the brunch of Mother’s Day we had,” said his mother, Yael.
“He was exploiting some leaves,” said his father, Adi. When he left the blade blower, he realized that he had “lost eight phone calls from Steve Witkoff.”
When Adi finally contacted the envoy of the White House, “he told us in 10 minutes from now on, Hamas will announce about the launch of his son tomorrow.”
“I thanked him. Without stop;” Thanks Steve! Thank you very much, “he recalled that Yael recalled having said the telephone line.” It’s the happiest mother’s day in history! “
“We were, shouting, like crazy with children,” he said. While Yael, Adi and his other two children saw television, came the announcement that Edan would be released the next day, as Witkoff had promised. “And we think, okay, we have to pack! We have to … get to Israel!”
Finally, the meeting with which they had dreamed for more than a year and a half was taking shape.
Adi reserved an immediate flight. Yael had already reserved one for later that day, in a blow of luck, planning to go and be with the family in Israel just after marking Mother’s Day.
Neinder of the parents rested a lot on their flights to Israel.
“I couldn’t sleep the whole flight,” Yael told CBS News. “As you are alert … I could sit, you know? I was like full adrenaline, how, ready, be there and recover Edan, you know?”
As soon as they landed, they were injected into an Israeli military base, where Edan soon arrived after being delivered by Hamas.
Israeli Defense Forces/Brochure/Anadolu through Getty
“I definitely gave him how the greatest hug in history,” said his mother. “When I come to him, I come with full power! We almost fell, because he was weak, and he was very excited, as if he were standing, as he trembled, you know, because, wow, it’s incredible, and I’m screaming, and I know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know,”
The parents said Edan is still weak, but the doctors clarified for the release of the hospital where he has been treated. He is still receiving medical attention for some minor injuries suffered the duration of the terrorist attack of October 7, whom his mother and dad said: “No one takes care of those tunnels.”
Recovering your freedom was a heartbreaking order.
“The day of liberation was a very busy day for him,” Father Adi told CBS News. “Tok from the day of launch.”
Since then, Edan has given them some details about their captivity, but they are not pressing it.
“He speaks a lot about it, but he is not in a hurry. We are not asking. If you want to say something, you say, and we are not pressing,” said his father. “He went through many things.”
“He is happy to be at home, you know, just to sit with Mika and Roy [his siblings] And just to hang out and be with us and watch television yesterday, “their parents said.
Brochure/courtesy of the Alexander family
Duration of his long captivity, Edan saw his parents in the news, pleading for his release.
“I think that the fact that he saw us, saw us running, fighting and hitting each one, kept him hopeful,” said his father, along with “the fact that he was a hero with other hostages together, and not only, you joke him Hopulul. Physically.”
Hamas has had many of his hostages in tunnels under the Gaza Strip, with many, including Alexander, saying that they never saw daylight.
“I am so pale,” his mother recalled. “I see myself like a vampire!”
Israel has intensified IS War in GazaWhere the Ministry of Health led by Hamas says that more than 53,000 people have now died on their legs since it begged the fighting, including more than 500 alone in the last week.
Host families: 58 or that are It is still believed that he is a hero in GazaIncluding approximately 20 that Israeli officials are alive, have tasks in the streets regularly, denouncing the renewed offensive how to put their loved ones at an even greater risk.
“Edan told us, so when they heard the bombardment, it was very, very worrying, terrifying,” said Adi. “And at some point, one of the tunnels collapsed.”
“He sometimes told us that he was afraid to go to sleep. Because maybe they will bombard this place where he is specifically inside,” added the father. “It was very scary.”
Now again as a family, their thoughts are still very hostages.
“We are still talking about the 58 hostages that are still there,” Yael told CBS News. “Whatever Edan told me about the hostages [who were] With him, you know, the duration at any time of captivity, I call his moms and dads, and I count them from the hospital, I have done everything. You know, to give them a little hope that their history can also end soon, and with a good ending. “
She knows better than most of the amount of power that hope can provide.
“It’s very important, you know. For me, every liberation, it was like, ‘my God, maybe he saw Edan. Maybe I can advise, and I don’t care if it’s not two days, you know. Wow, you know, it was very crucial for us.”
At least one of the previously released hostages came to visit Edic at the hospital last week. Comrade Sagui Dekel-Chen National of Dual Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was released after 498 days in captivity, said in a statement published Monday by the hostage of Families Forum that and Edan were together for a while in captivity.
Forum/forum of hostages and missing families
“Our destiny was intertwined in the most complex situation that one could imagine,” said Dekel-Chen in the statement. “It was important for me coming and welcoming Edan on his return. I know what happened and what he still has in front of him. I am very happy for him and his family. I hope to hug all the products that remain.”
Yael Alexander said that “it was incredible to see” the two men gathered in freedom. “It was a miracle. This is the victory: see the hostages together.”
When asked what his family knew the world now, while rumors swirled once again about potential progress in high fire conversations despite the increasing Israeli military operations, Adi said the message was simple: act now.
“The urgency,” he told CBS News. “Only the urgency. Our son, he was lucky to leave … listen, you can’t treat agony with more agony. This war should end.”
At the moment, in the beginning, there is no end in sight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel intends to continue pressing his offensive in Gaza, to confiscate complete control of the Palestinian territory.
“We are grateful for Steve [Witkoff]For President Trump, and for Adam Boehler, “said Father relieved.” Great job. But work is not done. We still have to do. “
“It’s time for them to go home. All of them,” Yael said. “Not in small pieces, alone, to bring everyone back home.”
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Contributed to this report.