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EdanAlexanderFirstPublicAppearance_2025-09-19-17-13-42

New tonight, Tenaflies Ian Alexander, making his first public comments since being released from Hamas captivity, and after I was taken, I fought every single day to survive in captivity in the tunnels in the darkness. I was held for 584 days. Those are the hardest days of my life, days of struggle, pain, and separation from my family. But tonight I'm standing here free. Alexander receiving a standing ovation speaking at the Friends of the IDF New York Gala, he thanked President Trump for securing his release, thanked his family for never giving up on him, and he told the crowd he will put on the IDF uniform again. Let us also raise our voices for those still waiting in the tunnels, still waiting for freedom. Let us promise that we will not stop until they return. And before I conclude, I want to share this with you. Next month, God willing, I will return to Israel. I will once again put on the IDF uniform. My story does not end with survival. It continues with service. Adamitajon. Alexander finally returned home to Tenafly in June to a hero's welcome. Nearly two years since the terror attack on October 7th, 48 hostages remain in captivity. Of those, only 20 are believed to be alive.

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MTNJEdanAlexander0929_2025-09-29-17-22-06

Well, he survived 584 days in hell as a Hamas hostage. Today, 10 of Fly's Idan Alexander was honored in his hometown. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, along with local community and religious leaders, came together as River Edge Road was renamed Ean Alexander Way. Edan Alexander and his family there for the occasion too. So today, as we will in a minute, we named the street Aan Alexander Way to remind parents. To remind parents to tell their children the story of a young man from Tenafly who overcame all odds and then un cowed rushed back to continue the fight against terror and evil. I knew my family in my town and so many people were fighting on me, fighting for me, keeping my name alive and pushing for my return. That gave me strength to have a road named here in a place I call home is something I could never have imagined. It's not just my name on the sign. It's a reminder of how powerful a community can be when he refuses to give up. About a week and a half ago, Idan, in his first public comments since his release, announced that he would be returning to Israel and putting on the IDF uniform again.

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MTNJEdanFree10p0512_2025-05-12-22-16-13

Well, the last American hostage held captive by Hamas was released today, and he is a New Jersey native. That's Ian Alexander, finally reunited with his parents. Oh yeah. That is a reunion many feared would never come. Tina flies Ian Alexander, raised in Bergen County and then went to Israel to enlist as a soldier. He was taken hostage during the Hamas massacre on October 7th. At the time he was 19. He's now 21. Hamas released him as a goodwill gesture towards the Trump administration, and thousands gathered in Tenafly celebrating Alexander's release. As he returned to Israel and into his family's arms. We've been thinking about Ean Alexander. He's been on our thoughts and prayers for you since October of 23. to see the community come out like this today, it's so meaningful and so special, and I feel so proud of our community. And we are still waiting to hear when Ian Alexander will return to New Jersey.

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Alexander, who was tortured and held hostage for 584 days, spoke this week at the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre. 

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