IDF Releases Footage of Emotional Reunion Between Freed Hostage Idan Alexander and His Family

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday evening released emotional footage showing the reunion of freed Israeli soldier Idan Alexander with his parents, Yael and Adi, and his brother, after spending 584 days in Hamas captivity. The meeting took place shortly after Alexander was transported by helicopter to an Israeli hospital for medical evaluation.

In a heartfelt moment captured on camera, Alexander’s mother embraced him and said, “How much we worried about you, I love you.” Earlier in the day, the IDF released a recording of the first phone call between the soldier and his mother following his release. “You are outside, my soul. That’s it, I am here, I am waiting for you,” she said tearfully. Alexander responded, “You are protected, you are at home. Give it your all, you are strong — we will meet soon. I love you, my soul. Show me a picture of you now, you look amazing.”

Thanks to Trump and a Plea for Others
During the helicopter flight back to Israel, Alexander was seen thanking former U.S. President Donald Trump for his release. In an interview with Channel 12, he pledged to keep advocating for the remaining hostages: “We have a voice and we will use it so that everyone gets out.”

Family Reactions: Relief and Pride
Alexander’s father described seeing an image of his son post-release: “Handsome, standing on his feet — that’s what’s important. A little pale, thin, but a tall boy — this is my boy.”
His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, expressed both pride and joy: “He is no longer a rookie, he is a real man. Idan is a joker, he has a sense of humor, and he must have been happy to see his mother and about the release. Thank God, we all won.”

Doron Zaktzer, Alexander’s adoptive father, told Haaretz: “When he arrives, the first thing I will tell him is that I am proud of him. He is a strong boy… surviving in unimaginable conditions.” Zaktzer also emphasized ongoing concern for the remaining hostages. “We will not be complete without them,” he said. “We will rest when the last hostage is home.”

Strategic Gesture Amid Diplomatic Pressure
Hamas announced Alexander’s release on Sunday night, following what it described as direct contacts with the American administration. Palestinian sources in Doha indicated that the move was likely a gesture of goodwill — not part of a formal agreement — aimed at prompting American pressure on Israel to advance negotiations and facilitate humanitarian aid.

Significantly, Alexander’s release marks the first time Hamas has freed an Israeli hostage without a reciprocal agreement involving the release of Palestinian prisoners. The release is also believed to be timed in anticipation of former President Trump's upcoming visit to the region.