Edan Alexander’s adoptive father slams Israeli government: "They're not making the right choice"

Edan’s adoptive father, Doron, spoke about his son’s return after hundreds of days in captivity. “We got home filled with adrenaline, and just as we parked, a helicopter flew overhead,” he told Walla.

“Now Edan is meeting and spending time with the immediate family, with his grandparents. We’ll know how to step in and help with whatever he needs when the time comes and it suits them. I’m giving him space. There’s immense anxiety until he’s out, until you see his face and see him walking. You know the conditions they were in, you saw him in the video, so until that moment, you’re very worried.

The moment he walks on his own and smiles, the air is released, and you get oxygen. But it’s clear that behind the smile and the walking of every hostage, there’s complexity, medically, mentally. They were in hell for so many days, in those horrific conditions. What matters is that he’s here. We’ll wrap him up. The mission was to bring him home, and now we’re part of the support system, whatever he needs.”

He expressed gratitude to Trump, Wittkoff, and the whole team.

He also strongly criticized the Israeli government:

"It isn’t doing what’s right or making the right decision. Contrary to what Smotrich said, that he represents the majority of the people and the people are against a deal. Every shell you hear, you think, God forbid, there’ll be another casualty among the hostages. I’m very worried that they’re not making the right choice: a deal, a long ceasefire, with a buffer zone. They’re choosing a political path. Smotrich, together with Ben-Gvir, is leading the government toward a lack of values and justice, in a direction that harms the backbone of our core values, redeeming captives. There’ll be time to fight Hamas; the hostages don’t have time. That Edan came out like this is a miracle.”

He added, “We’re incredibly worried about the hostages still in Gaza. This is the most critical issue; they’re all humanitarian cases. The government needs to do what’s necessary and not let the U.S. administration run the show. That’s what’s most troubling, the heaviness in our hearts. Edan is first and foremost an Israeli soldier.”

Walla contributed to this article.