Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared an emotional phone call with Edan Alexander on Monday, a day after Alexander was released from Hamas captivity. The conversation also included a brief exchange with President Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who appeared to be with Alexander's family.
"Edan? It's so good to hear your voice," Netanyahu began. Alexander, sounding understandably weak but relieved, responded, "Crazy, crazy, unbelievable."
Netanyahu conveyed the national sentiment, telling Alexander, "We are overjoyed, [your] mom and dad are overjoyed, and the entire nation of Israel is overjoyed. I want you to know, this is simply a wonderful moment."
Video: PM Netanyahu speaks with Edan Alexander / Credit: PMO
When asked how he was feeling, Alexander replied, "Okay. Weak, but slowly, slowly... we'll get back to what we were before. It's all a matter of time." He confirmed his family, including his parents, were with him. "Everyone is with me," he said, adding he had hugged them tightly.
Netanyahu expressed his happiness for the entire family, including grandparents, stating, "Today, we are all one family." He then quipped that he wants to give Alexander one directive: "Other than you being a free man now, listen to what the doctors say. We have amazing medical teams." Alexander assured him, "I hear everything. I'm taking it all slowly."
Netanyahu concluded his direct words to Alexander with heartfelt blessings: "Welcome back, from the bottom of my heart. Truly, from the bottom of my heart. And truly, truly blessings from the people of Israel."
The call then included Witkoff, who was with Alexander. Netanyahu told Witkoff, "Hey, you have one brave Israeli soldier there, who's also a champion of America and Israel together. And we're very, very happy and very grateful to the help that you and President Trump gave us." Netanyahu added, "We of course value his comrades, the Israeli soldiers who are there ready to take whatever action if our other friends, our other hostages are not released. So that's a, it's a great moment. And so thank you."
Witkoff, in turn, praised Netanyahu's role in securing Alexander's release. "Mr. Prime Minister, I've told Edan and his family everything that you have done to make this possible over the last several days," Witkoff stated. "It was a tense negotiation and it was critical how you allowed the negotiations to operate, and that's in large part the reason that Edan is home with his family today."
The conversation, conducted while Netanyahu sat at his desk with a yellow ribbon pinned to his lapel – a symbol of solidarity with the hostages.
