Freed After 584 Days, U.S.-Israeli Edan Alexander Returns In IDF Uniform and Vows to Fight Hamas

Edan Alexander Rejoins IDF, Vows Retaliation After 584 Days in Captivity

Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli from New Jersey who was freed from Gaza in May after 584 days as a hostage, returned to public view near the Gaza border wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniform and declared he is prepared to confront Hamas.

Speaking at the site of the Nova music festival massacre during the Ambassador Summit 2025, Alexander said he had learned the language and culture of his captors and intends to use that knowledge to assist Israeli forces. "I know the language, I know their culture, I know a lot of things about these demons. I just told myself there’s no way I’ll take this present and put it aside. I have to use it and return it," he told the audience.

"I wanted [Hamas] to see I’ll never break, and that I’ll return the favor. You gave me hell? I’ll give you hell."

Alexander said this was his first time in uniform so close to the Gaza border since his release. He addressed more than 1,000 attendees at the week-long summit—including Christian pastors, youth leaders, educators and social media influencers—and said he will share information he gathered during captivity with the IDF.

The Ambassador Summit 2025, organized by groups including Friends of Zion, featured speakers such as U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to The Jerusalem Post. Other former hostages who spoke at the event included Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, and Aviva and Keith Siegel. The Times of Israel reported that the released hostages received the "Here Am I Award" from Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum.

At a Friends of the IDF event in September, Alexander had already announced his intention to return to military service, calling the 584 days in captivity "the hardest days of my life. Days of struggle, pain and separation from my family," and saying, "My story does not end with survival. It continues with service." When he was released, he was the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, Fox News.