Former captive of Hamas now expresses eagerness to return to military service
Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who was held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has announced his intention to return to military service following his release in May. The captive, who was one of over 250 people, including soldiers and civilians, kidnapped during an attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, spent 548 to 584 days in the tunnels under the coastal strip of the Gaza Strip.
Alexander's ordeal involved days of struggle, pain, and separation from his family. He described his time as a Hamas captive as 'the hardest days of my life.' However, in a speech at an event hosted by the private US organization FIDF, which supports Israeli soldiers, he emphasized that his story doesn't end with survival, but continues with service. The speech concluded with the words 'To victory.'
In a surprising turn of events, Alexander was released as part of a deal between Hamas and the US, without Israeli involvement. Despite his release, approximately 20 other captives are still being held in the Gaza Strip, and Israeli officials estimate that the captives still being held are alive.
In a move that may raise privacy concerns, Alexander gave his consent for an external content from Glomex to be displayed on the site. The consent granted to Glomex allows for data collection and processing, even in countries with a lower level of data protection. With the consent, glomex GmbH can store or retrieve information on the device and collect and process personal data, even in countries outside the EU. The consent is valid for the current visit to the site, but can be withdrawn during it. The Glomex content can be activated via 'Accept and display.'
Hamas has claimed to have distributed captives across several neighborhoods in the city of Gaza to prevent an Israeli offensive. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has not yet commented on these claims.
Alexander, who holds both Israeli and US citizenship, made the announcement at the FIDF event, marking a significant moment in his life and in the ongoing saga of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
