WASHINGTON, D.C. — Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier who spent over a year and a half as a Hamas hostage in Gaza, was received at the White House Thursday by President Donald Trump, a visit marked by emotional reflection and political significance.

Alexander, a native of Tenafly, New Jersey, was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, while serving in the Israel Defense Forces during the surprise attack launched by Hamas. He was among the soldiers taken to Gaza during the deadly incursion that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.

After 584 days in captivity, Alexander was freed in May 2025 and has since reunited with his family. On Thursday, he met with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the Oval Office, where he offered striking insight into how his treatment by his captors shifted following Trump’s return to the presidency earlier this year.

“Since you got elected, my conditions improved dramatically,” Alexander said to Trump during their private exchange, as reported by Israeli media. “There are tons of cameras and people around me right now — I can’t share much at the moment. We’ll talk in private.”

Trump had previously spoken to Alexander over the phone just hours after his release, telling the young soldier, “I can’t wait to see you at the White House. The whole nation wants to see you.”

According to Alexander’s aunt, the impact of Trump’s election on his nephew’s well-being in captivity was not just symbolic. “He said that since Trump took power his conditions improved,” she said. “From the moment they started to talk about him, they gave him more food so that he would gain weight.”

Hamas’ release of Alexander was described by the terror group as a “goodwill gesture” toward the Trump administration. The decision came as negotiations to secure the freedom of other hostages, both Israeli and foreign nationals, continue to stall.

Alexander, who had been stationed near the Gaza border with the IDF’s Golani Brigade, was taken during the initial wave of the October 7 assault. His capture, along with hundreds of others, drew global attention and became emblematic of the growing hostage crisis.

During his White House visit, Alexander reportedly expressed gratitude to President Trump and conveyed his hope that others still being held will be brought home. Trump, for his part, reaffirmed his commitment to continuing efforts to free the remaining hostages.

Alexander is the last known living American hostage to be released from Gaza. His return and public remarks add new urgency to the hostage issue, as pressure mounts on both the United States and Israel to resolve the ongoing crisis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected in Washington next week for meetings with President Trump, and the topic of the hostages is expected to feature prominently in their discussions.