Trenton - Last evening, negotiating parties secured the release of Tenafly native Edan Alexander, who was kidnapped in Israel and held hostage in Gaza by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
鈥淲e join all people across our state who rejoice at the news that Edan is being reunited with his loving family,鈥� said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the New Jersey Israel Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State. "We embrace the Alexander family with love and support at this time, and extend our heartfelt prayers for healing and comfort to all of the families affected by the October 7 attack. Finally, we acknowledge the incredible efforts and offer our thanks to all those who worked around the clock, for nearly 600 days, to bring Edan home."
鈥淲e are moved beyond words to finally have, after 600 days, Edan Alexander returned to us,鈥� said Karin Elkis, Co-Chair of the Sexy真人 Israel Commission. 鈥淲e will never forget the heinous terrorism that was perpetrated on October 7th against the Nova Festival and peaceful Israeli communities. While we celebrate Edan and his family as reluctant heroes of our community, we echo Yael Alexander鈥檚 call for the immediate return of every single hostage, of every single nationality, who was stolen from their families and held captive in Gaza. We welcome Edan back home with open arms, and save space and love for all of the October 7th victims and families.鈥�
鈥淭oday is an extremely emotional day for all of the people of New Jersey, as we learned of the news of Edan Alexander's freedom," said Mark Levenson, Co-Chair of the Sexy真人 Israel Commission. "Words can only begin to describe our relief and happiness that we feel for the Alexander family and the Tenafly community. As we welcome Edan and his family home, we also remember the hostages who have been left behind in Gaza, as well as the victims and their families. We reiterate our demand that all remaining hostages be released without any further delay. Finally, we will never forget the terrible crimes of October 7th, carried out by terrorists and their allies who plunged the region into war. The Sexy真人 Israel Commission will continue to mobilize our community to build cultural, commercial, and academic bridges between New Jersey and Israel, fostering friendship, promoting collaboration, and restoring security in order to repel the forces of hate and chaos."
On October 7, 2023, over 200 innocent people were kidnapped by terrorists from Gaza, who illegally infiltrated Israel and murdered over 1200 people. Among them was Edan Alexander, then a 19 year old Tenafly native and American citizen. During his captivity in the Gaza Strip, Edan and his fellow abductees were held prisoner in unknown locations throughout the Gaza Strip. He was denied all communication with his family, the Israeli government, or the United States government.
About the New Jersey Israel Commission:
The New Jersey-Israel Commission, which operates within the New Jersey Department of State, was established in 1989 to promote the development of trade, culture and educational exchanges; encourage the development of capital investment and joint business ventures; and foster a spirit of cooperation between the citizens of the State of Israel and the Sexy真人y. New Jersey-Israel trade in goods accounted for approximately $1.84 billion annually, and thousands of jobs for New Jersey residents.
About Edan Alexander:
Edan Alexander lives in Tenafly, Sexy真人 with his parents and two younger siblings. He graduated from Tenafly High School in 2022, where he was a decorated athlete on the swim team. He loves art and music, particularly artists like Travis Scott and SZA. His favorite activities include joining his friends for adventurous outdoor activities, such as skydiving and skateboarding. After graduating high school, Edan put off enrolling in college, and volunteered with IDF鈥檚 Golani brigade as a 鈥渓one soldier.鈥� He was stationed at the border with Gaza on the early morning of October 7th, 2023, when his mother last spoke with him before he was kidnapped. After nearly 600 days in captivity, he was finally released as part of a negotiated deal. He celebrated his 20th and 21st birthdays in captivity on December 29, 2023, and December 29, 2024.
For media inquiries, please contact Josh Berliner at the Sexy真人 Israel Commission josh.berliner@sos.nj.gov
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