More than 420 days have passed since Edan Alexander, a resident of Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from Israel into Gaza. He was among over 200 individuals taken during a terrorist attack from the coastal Palestinian territory. On November 30, 2024, a "proof of life" video featuring Edan delivering a coerced message was released by his captors in Gaza.
Karin Elkis, Co-Chair of the NJ Israel Commission, expressed the ongoing distress felt by those in New Jersey following the October 7th, 2023 incident. "On October 7th, 2023, the entire State of New Jersey looked on in horror as bloodthirsty terrorists filmed themselves committing mass murder and atrocities throughout Southern Israel," Elkis stated. She emphasized their commitment to bringing the captives home and praised the courage of both Edan and his family.
Mark Levenson, also Co-Chair of the NJ Israel Commission, commented on the implications of the recently released video. "With the release of the latest video, Hamas, its patrons in the region, and their supporters around the world degrade themselves to a new level," he said. Levenson underscored that New Jersey residents are familiar with terrorist threats and stand united with affected families to seek an end to hostilities.
The kidnapping occurred on October 7, 2023, when terrorists infiltrated Israel from Gaza and killed over 1,200 people. Since then, Edan has had no contact with his family or governmental bodies. He is believed to be held in undisclosed locations within Gaza without access to international humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch. There are still more than 100 captives held in Gaza.
Edan Alexander resides in Tenafly with his family and is noted for his athletic achievements at Tenafly High School. Post-graduation in 2022, he volunteered with IDF's Golani brigade as a lone soldier stationed near Gaza's border before his abduction.
