A joyful reunion lifts hearts as the young Israeli-American soldier freed from Hamas captivity is embraced by family, nation, and the red, white and blue. For one day, Israel could almost forget the worrying indications of “daylight” with the Trump Administration and the likely resumption of an all-out fight to destroy Hamas.

For the family of Edan Alexander — and for millions watching around the world — Monday’s reunion was a moment of pure joy, a welcome flicker of light amid a long and painful war.

After 217 harrowing days in Hamas captivity, the 20-year-old Israeli-American soldier was finally returned to Israeli soil. His arrival was not met by ceremony or grand speeches, but by tears, embraces, and quiet relief.

“This is the happiest day of our lives,” his mother said in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “Edan is home.”

Edan, a native of New Jersey and a proud IDF lone soldier, had joined the Nahal Brigade out of deep conviction — a desire to serve and protect the Jewish homeland. On October 7, he was stationed along the Gaza border and captured during Hamas’s brutal and unprovoked assault on Israeli communities, an attack that slaughtered 1,200 and sent shockwaves through the world.

His release came as part of ongoing indirect negotiations, facilitated through regional and international intermediaries. The details remain classified, but the result was crystal clear: a mother’s child returned, a nation’s son restored.

President Isaac Herzog welcomed Edan back with warm words: “The people of Israel embrace Edan and his family. We will not rest until every hostage is brought home.”

Edan’s return carries symbolic weight beyond the borders of Israel. As an American citizen, his case drew personal attention from the White House. President Biden said Monday, “We are relieved Edan Alexander is safe and reunited with his family. The United States remains committed to securing the release of all hostages.”

The reunion also served to unite a fractured Israeli public, if only briefly. Images of Edan embracing his parents and siblings reminded many of what matters most — family, freedom, and resilience.

One senior officer in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit commented, “Edan’s return doesn’t end the war — but it does remind us what we’re fighting for.”

The U.S. role in advocating for his release was also recognized, even as tensions simmer over broader policy differences. The Biden administration has recently come under criticism in Israel for delaying weapons shipments and pushing for constraints on Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Nevertheless, the successful return of an American citizen demonstrates that cooperation on core values — including hostage recovery — remains possible, even in difficult times.

There are still over 130 hostages believed to be held in Gaza, both living and dead. Their fate remains uncertain. The war continues. So do the questions about how and when it will end.

Critics caution against letting this joyful moment obscure the broader strategic and moral complexities. Hamas continues to use civilians and hostages as human shields. The international community, while celebrating isolated releases, has failed to force Hamas to disarm or free all captives.

But for now, for one family — and for a people yearning for good news — Edan’s return is enough.

A banner held at a welcome gathering outside Sheba Medical Center read: “Welcome home, Edan. Am Yisrael Chai. America stands with you.”

Sometimes, that’s all that needs to be said.