Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old American-Israeli who became a symbol of hope and resilience after surviving nearly 600 days as a hostage in Gaza, is preparing to return to the front lines. His announcement comes at a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict, as Israel intensifies its operations against Hamas and faces mounting security challenges on multiple fronts.
Alexander’s story is nothing short of remarkable. According to northjersey.com, he was the last living U.S. hostage held by Hamas, having been kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attacks at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, a music festival that turned tragic when militants stormed the event. He was serving with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) at the time, fulfilling his mandatory military service. For 584 days, Alexander endured interrogation, beatings, and the psychological torment of being paraded in Hamas propaganda videos. “I fought every single day to survive in captivity, in the tunnels, in the darkness,” he told a crowd of over 1,000 at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces dinner in Manhattan on September 18, 2025. “These were the hardest days of my life — days of struggle, pain, and separation from my family.”
His release in May 2025 was met with jubilation in both Israel and his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, where hundreds lined the streets to welcome him home. He later met with former President Trump at the White House. Yet, Alexander’s sense of duty remained undiminished. “Next month, God willing, I will return to Israel and once again wear the IDF uniform, and I will proudly serve alongside my brothers,” he declared, drawing cheers from the Manhattan audience. “My story does not end with survival—it continues in service.”
Alexander’s return comes as Israel marks 715 days since the war began, a conflict that has left deep scars on both sides. According to war summaries reported on September 20, 2025, by Israeli news outlets, more than half of Gaza City’s population has now evacuated, with most remaining civilians huddled in coastal areas. The IDF estimates that, if current trends continue, Gaza City will be nearly empty within weeks. However, the battle for the city is far from over. Reports from IDF Radio and News 12 present conflicting assessments of Hamas’s presence: while some suggest two-thirds of Hamas fighters have fled, others—such as Amit Segal, a journalist whose predictions have often proven accurate—believe that Hamas is concentrating its forces for a final stand, sending as many as 10,000 fighters into Gaza City.
The situation for hostages remains dire. As of September 20, 48 individuals are still held captive in Gaza, with 26 confirmed murdered. The IDF has rescued 148 living hostages and recovered 59 bodies, but the fate of those remaining is uncertain. Hostage rescue efforts have become even more complicated. According to News 12, the IDF has halted strikes on tunnels in Gaza City, fearing that hostages are being held underground. This has created a “high-risk situation for both the hostages, and the IDF soldiers who enter areas where Hamas terrorists are still able to pop out of the ground anywhere at any moment.”
On the ground, the IDF is adapting its tactics. The use of remote-controlled vehicles—often old armored personnel carriers packed with explosives—has become increasingly common. These vehicles are driven into booby-trapped neighborhoods and detonated, causing significant damage and triggering secondary explosions. Civilians, having learned to fear the sound of these remote-controlled APCs, often evacuate immediately. The IDF’s four divisions inside Gaza are working to surround Gaza City, cut off Hamas fighters, and encourage civilian evacuations. Airstrikes have targeted around 100 terror sites in the past 24 hours alone, including the elimination of the deputy head of military intelligence in Hamas’s Al-Bureij Battalion.
Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain precarious. The IDF’s COGAT division reports that dozens of aid trucks continue to enter Gaza daily, though numbers have dropped by at least 10% since the closure of the Allenby Crossing from Jordan, following a deadly attack on IDF soldiers. Over 24,000 tents and tarpaulins have entered Gaza in recent weeks, but aid delivery is hampered by Hamas interference. According to COGAT and UNICEF statements, Hamas gunmen recently robbed four UNICEF trucks carrying baby formula intended for 2,700 malnourished children. In another incident, Hamas fired on a UN team attempting to open a new aid route, then commandeered UN vehicles to build a sand barrier, further blocking humanitarian access.
Security concerns are not confined to Gaza. In a troubling development, Israeli forces uncovered a rocket production plant near Ramallah on September 20. The cell had attempted to launch rockets at Israeli communities and was found with dozens of rockets, explosive materials, and equipment for manufacturing more. Over the past week, Israeli forces have arrested more than 75 suspected terrorists in Judea and Samaria, including 13 from Qabatia and nine Hamas operatives. In anticipation of the High Holidays, the IDF has bolstered security in the region with eight additional companies, bringing the total to 23 battalions until mid-October.
The northern front is also active. Since Friday, the IDF has conducted targeted strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, eliminating key commanders and destroying a vessel used for intelligence gathering. Meanwhile, Syria has signaled a willingness to pursue a security agreement with Israel. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told a Turkish newspaper, “Syria has no choice but to reach a security agreement with Israel. Syria knows how to fight but is not interested in war.”
Diplomatic tensions with Egypt have also come to the fore. During a meeting on September 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with evidence of Egyptian military activities in the Sinai that allegedly violate the 1979 peace treaty. Israeli intelligence claims Egypt has expanded runways for fighter jets and constructed underground facilities for missile storage, raising concerns about regional stability.
Amidst these challenges, Edan Alexander’s resolve stands out. “While I am free, many others are still in captivity,” he reminded his audience in Manhattan. “Their nightmare continues. Their families still wait. We cannot forget them. We cannot stop until they are all home. I dream of the day when every hostage will walk free. When no soldier, no child, no parent will face what I faced.” He punctuated his speech with the Hebrew declaration, “Until victory,” slapping the podium for emphasis.
With 1,934 Israelis killed and over 32,000 projectiles fired at Israel since the conflict began, the human toll is staggering. Yet Alexander’s return to service, and the ongoing efforts of the IDF and international organizations, reflect a determination to persevere, adapt, and hope for a day when the cycle of violence and captivity is finally broken.