The parents, relatives and friends of IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Edan Alexander rejoiced Monday evening in the return of the American-Israeli hostage to Israel after 584 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, with other hostage families stressing the plight of the remaining captives and politicians also warmly welcoming the release.

Alexander’s mom Yael flew together with US hostage envoy Adam Boehler from the United States to Israel, landing early Monday afternoon before rushing to the Re’im military base near the Gaza border, where her son was first taken after his release from captivity. Alexander’s father Adi landed several hours after his wife and was airlifted to Re’im, arriving just before his son.

Alexander was transferred by Hamas fighters to the Red Cross on Thursday evening before being driven to the border with Israel and handed over to Israeli troops.

“We landed right on time,” Adi Alexander told reporters. “It was an out-of-body experience. I managed to see his photo — handsome, on his feet, that’s the most important. A bit pale, skinny, but a tall kid, that’s my kid.”

Adi was referencing a photo Hamas released of Alexander during its handover to the Red Cross, which amounted to the lone evidence of the transfer after the terror group reportedly faced warnings from mediators not to conduct a ceremony like it had during previous hostage releases.

After an emotional family reunion at Re’im, Alexander was airlifted with relatives in an Israeli Air Force helicopter to Sourasky Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Alexander, a dual citizen who grew up in New Jersey, was serving in the IDF’s Golani Brigade at the time of his abduction. Hamas kidnapped him from his base near the Gaza border community of Nirim, known as the White House post, during its October 7, 2023, onslaught.

Edan’s grandparents spoke to reporters from their home in Tel Aviv while watching the release unfold on TV along with other relatives before his arrival at Sourasky.

His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, thanked God as well as the leaders of Israel and the US, while stressing that the family would continue to support the families of the rest of the hostages “until the last one.”

Addressing Edan, she said: “I now don’t need to strengthen you. You now came and strengthened us, and I’m happy you’re here. The air has returned to my lungs. I feel free.”

Edan’s grandfather, Baruch, said they would head to the Tel Aviv hospital to meet him: “We will hug him and kiss him and welcome him with open hands.”

Friends, acquaintances and activists for the hostages also celebrated Alexander’s return, including in his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey.

“I feel like I can finally breathe,” said Agam Shalam, who went to high school and trained for the IDF in a unit with Alexander.

She recalled to The Times of Israel being on a kibbutz in southern Israel when the Hamas terror group attacked on October 7, 2023, hiding in bomb shelters and, after a couple of days, hearing that a military officer had contacted Alexander’s parents to say that he had been taken hostage.

She called it “an insane thing to hear… I never expected my friend would be taken hostage — not for a day, not for a week and certainly not for 58[4] days.”

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of murdered American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, also feted the news in a social media post.

“In 584 days, we’ve come to know and love the Alexander family,” said Jon. “Adi, Yael, Savta Varda, Aunt Iris and Uncle Levi and all of the extended family, today we are celebrating with all of you.”

“Edan, we’ve grown to love you without ever having met you,” said Rachel. “We’re so relieved that you are home, welcome home.”

“And to everyone,” said Goldberg-Polin, raising her finger in warning, “We have 58 more people that have to come home.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of the hostage families, hailed the release “after 584 agonizing days of captivity,” while also stressing that many more Israelis remain in Hamas captivity.

“Edan’s release is a beacon of light and hope, but also a stark reminder that 58 men and women remain captive in Gaza. We must not leave a single hostage behind,” the statement read. “Unless all of them return, there will be no Israeli victory. The return of all the hostages is the most urgent and important national mission of our generation.”

Kibbutz Nir Oz — the Gaza border town that was hit the hardest during the October 7 assault — said it was “deeply moved” by the release, calling Alexander’s return “a bright light in the darkness we find ourselves in,” but added that it felt as though the lives of hostages without US citizenship “are worth less.”

“It is hard to ignore the difficult message that the citizens of the State of Israel are receiving today — one that is being conveyed to the entire world — that our lives are worth less.” the statement read. “A hostage with an American passport is given priority, while the other 58 hostages are left behind — 14 of whom are members of the Nir Oz community. The fear for their fate is greater than ever.”

Reactions also came from the national political and military leadership.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Alexander’s return, calling it a “very emotional moment” and crediting both Israeli military pressure and diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump.

In a video released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said the release was “achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump,” calling it “a winning combination.”

Multiple sources told The Times of Israel on Sunday that Alexander’s release was actually largely the result of a backchannel operated by a non-governmental individual who passed along messaged between Hamas’s leadership and US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff. Israel wasn’t even notified about the decision to release Alexander until it was finalized, the sources said.

In a separate statement, Netanyahu’s office said: “The Israeli government is committed to the return of all the hostages and the missing — both the living and the dead. We will continue to work tirelessly until everyone is returned home to Israel.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz said he was “thrilled” to see Alexander reunite with his family.

“I thank the president of the United States and the American administration for their efforts and assistance in securing his release,” said Katz.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid offered a terse statement: “Shehecheyanu. Fifty-eight to go.”

That was a reference to the 58 remaining captives, alongside a common Jewish blessing to celebrate a special occasion.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed that the army would continue to work for the release of the remaining captives held by Hamas.

Speaking at the military’s hostages and missing persons headquarters, Zamir said: “We are excited, and we welcome the return of Edan, an IDF fighter, back home. And alongside this, we do not forget our commitment to return the 58 hostages in Hamas captivity. They are before our eyes at all times. We will continue to operate using all the tools at our disposal to bring them back.”

Agencies contributed to this report.