Wearing an IDF uniform, freed hostage Edan Alexander told attendees of the Ambassador Summit 2025 at the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre on Wednesday that, having rejoined the IDF, he will give "hell" to the terrorists that tormented him during his captivity.
"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," the former Hamas captive, who spent 584 days in Gaza captivity, told the crowd.
Alexander spoke to a US delegation of more than 1,000 Christian pastors, youth leaders, educators, and social media influencers, who are attending a week-long summit in Israel, organized by the Friends of Zion Ambassador Institute (FOZ).
"I was there a year and seven months,” Alexander added, speaking about his time in captivity. “I told myself there’s no way I'll go through the whole process of coming to Israel, enlisting, and serving in an elite unit for ten months only to stop. I need to finish the two years and eight months, maybe even more.”
He explained that he felt a need to "close the circle," noting, "I gathered knowledge over there. I know the language, I know the culture, I know a lot about these demons. I have to use all of that and come back. And now I’m here in uniform.”
Edan Alexander, the American immigrant who became a Gaza hostage
Alexander came to Israel in August 2022 at 18 years old to serve as a lone soldier in the Golani Brigade.
After eight months of training, he recalled, "I flew back to the States for a month, saw my family for a bit, and came back to the Gaza border. October 7 just hit us like a truck. I remember being on a post not far from here, next to Nir Oz and Nirim, when I was taken."
Alexander, who is now 21 years old, was released from Hamas captivity in May 2025. At the time of his release, he was the last living hostage held in Gaza who had US citizenship.
For over a year, he was held in underground tunnels, Hamas safe houses, mosques, schools, and tents used to house displaced Palestinians. His father previously confirmed that he was injured when a tunnel collapsed on him.
Alexander lost approximately 20 kilograms in weight as he was forced to drink seawater and given only dirty bread to eat. He described his captivity as “a year of hell.”
In September of 2025, Alexander announced his return to the IDF while speaking at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) gala in New York. He also acknowledged US President Donald Trump and his administration for being responsible for his release.
“Without their work, I would not be here with you tonight,” he said to the gala’s sold-out audience.
“I will once again put on the IDF uniform, and I will proudly serve alongside my brothers. My story does not end with survival; it continues with service.”