Former Gaza captive, Edan Alexander, to rejoin army, continue role in Gaza genocide

Freed American Israeli captive, Edan Alexander, announced this week that he hopes to return to his role in the Israeli army, less than six months after being released from the war-battered enclave.

He made the comments in public in New York, while attending an event for the US Friends of the IDF Organisation.

"Next month, with God’s help, I will return to Israel, put on the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) uniform again, and serve proudly alongside my brothers. My story does not end with survival – it continues with service," he said.

His comments come as Israel continues to pound the enclave, focusing on Gaza City, where the army has razed entire neighbourhoods and forced out tens of thousands of civilians on foot with nowhere safe to flee to.

The 21-year-old moved to Israel at 18 to volunteer for military service in the army’s Golani Brigade. He was released in May after being held for 584 days in Gaza.  

Hamas had released Alexander in what it called a goodwill gesture, to speed up ceasefire talks and encourage a deal to be secured. The Palestinian group also freed him in an effort to pave the way for the entry of urgent humanitarian aid into the enclave, a move that was welcomed by the US.

"The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed-upon manner," Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas official, said at the time in a statement.

US President Donald Trump in response called it "a step taken in good faith towards the US and the efforts of mediators".

However, despite Hamas’ move being well received by the US president and officials, the Trump administration has since continued to back Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Last month, a famine was declared in Gaza, while the number of civilians who have died due to starvation and malnutrition has topped 400.

Alexander is not the only former captive that has announced plans to return to the army. Earlier this year, the father of former captive Liri Albag told Israeli media that she would also be returning to serve in the army.

The war on Gaza has been determined to be a genocide by leading rights groups including Amnesty International. Israel has also limited emergency aid from entering into the enclave, while aid-seekers have been directly shot at and targeted.

Over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, and an additional 1666,271 others have been wounded in the same time frame.