In the early morning hours, the tight-knit community of Tenafly, New Jersey, came together in Huyler Park to witness a moment of hope and unity. Residents gathered at dawn, their eyes fixed on a massive screen broadcasting live coverage from Israel as they awaited the release of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Tenafly native held hostage by Hamas for 584 days. The event, marked by Israeli and American flags, posters, and a giant yellow banner reading "Welcome Home Edan," was a testament to the town's unwavering support for one of their own.
Edan, a 2022 Tenafly High School graduate, was serving in the Israeli Defense Forces' Golani Brigade when he was kidnapped near the Gaza border during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Born in Tel Aviv and raised in Tenafly, he had moved to Israel at 18 to volunteer as a lone soldier, choosing to stay on base that fateful weekend to support his comrades. His capture, one of 251 abductions that day, left his family and community reeling, but their resolve to bring him home never wavered.
BREAKING: It's 5:43am EST and the entire town of Tenafly New Jersey is ready to watch the live release of their own resident, Edan Alexander, who has been held in captivity for nearly 600 days. 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/gcIl18yW7N
— Jason D. Meister 🇺🇸 (@jason_meister) May 12, 2025
Hundreds gathered outside Cafe Angelique, where the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades helped organize the communal viewing. The JCC expressed joy at the prospect of Edan's release, hoping it would pave the way for a broader agreement to free all remaining hostages and secure a lasting ceasefire. Local resident Orly Chen, an Israeli native, described the scene as a "Hostages Square" in Tenafly, mirroring the solidarity gatherings in Tel Aviv. "When, God willing, he's going to come back to Tenafly, there'll be a really nice and warm welcome here," she told The Forward.
Hamas announced on Sunday that it would release Edan as a "goodwill gesture" toward a ceasefire, a move confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump's envoy. The release, the first of a male soldier captured on October 7, was negotiated by the United States, catching both Israeli officials and Edan's family by surprise. FOX 5 New York reported that Hamas' statement emphasized steps toward opening border crossings and delivering aid to Gaza, though details of the agreement remained sparse.
The gathering in Tenafly was deeply personal for a community with strong ties to Israel. Many residents, including Israeli expats and Jewish families, have supported the Alexander family through weekly "Run for Their Lives" marches, which drew up to 1,000 people at times. Yael Alexander, Edan's mother, last spoke to her son on the morning of his capture, when he reassured her despite the chaos around him. Adi Alexander, his father, told The Record in February that he remained optimistic but was haunted by the frail condition of other released hostages, underscoring the urgency of Edan's freedom.
Edan Alexander's birthtown of Tenafly New Jersey is out at 6 in the morning to await his release.
No vulgar chants, no violence, no disrupting the public. This is the difference between our side and theirs.
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) May 12, 2025
US Representative Josh Gottheimer, whose district includes Tenafly, has been a vocal advocate for Edan's release, recently meeting with negotiators in Qatar. "The United States should never leave any man or woman behind," he told NJ Spotlight News. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who marked Edan's 300th day in captivity with a call for his swift return, has also kept in close contact with federal authorities to secure his freedom.
As the livestream played, some residents wrapped themselves in prayer shawls for morning prayers, while others sipped coffee from Cafe Angelique. The crowd, including families who let their children skip school to witness the historic moment, buzzed with anticipation. "We are so blessed to have such an amazing community," one attendee told The Forward, capturing the sentiment of a town united in hope.
Edan, a swimmer, New York Knicks fan, and lover of art and music, celebrated his 20th and 21st birthdays in captivity. A propaganda video released by Hamas in November 2024 showed him delivering a coerced message, a painful yet vital sign of life for his family. Now, as the IDF prepared for a quiet handover at the Gaza border, Tenafly stood ready to welcome their son home, a symbol of resilience and community strength.
