From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Freed hostage Edan Alexander gets IDF promotion ahead of his return to military
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Edan Alexander, an IDF soldier who was released in May after 584 days in Hamas captivity, was promoted today by the chief of the Personnel Directorate, the military says.
After being freed, Alexander said he wished to resume his service in the IDF.
During a military conference today, Personnel Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa awarded Alexander the rank of sergeant first class.
Alexander, 21, came to Israel from the United States to serve as a lone soldier in the Golani Brigade. He was abducted from an army post near the border community of Nirim on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel.
Edan Alexander, an IDF soldier who was released in May after 584 days in Hamas captivity, was promoted today by the chief of the Personnel Directorate, the military says.
After being freed, Alexander said he wished to resume his service in the IDF.
During a military conference… pic.twitter.com/Wg2O0O5ffs
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 29, 2025
The Times of Israel Community.