Edan Alexander, who was raised in New Jersey, is believed to be the last living U.S. citizen held captive in Gaza.

As news spread of the American hostage’s release, neighbors and classmates gathered to celebrate in Tenafly, New Jersey.

New Jersey officials, including Gov. Phil Murphy and Sen. Andy Kim, cheered Hamas' release of Edan Alexander of Tenafly.

Tenafly, New Jersey native Edan Alexander has been reunited with his family after spending more than 19 months being held captive. The now-21-year-old was released to the Red Cross Monday afternoon and was quickly returned to his family.

Alexander, 21, was born to Israeli parents and raised in Tenafly, a leafy suburb across the Hudson River from the Bronx. He joined the IDF after graduating from high school and was taken hostage during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel. He was released on Monday after 584 days in captivity.