Israeli chef Eyal Shani visited Israeli-American former hostage Edan Alexander at the hospital on Thursday, where the chef cooked Alexander a meal, according to posts on social media.
השף אייל שני מפנק בבית החולים את שורד השבי את עידן אלכסנדר. כ"כ מגיע לו.: דני הכט pic.twitter.com/GWClVxxfOB
— מנחם קולדצקי (@nbjovsr88) May 22, 2025
Alexander was returned to Israeli territory on May 12, after 584 days in Hamas captivity. His arrival was announced by the Prime Minister's Office in a statement, saying that it would assist him "in his reintegration and support him and his family."
His homecoming marked the release of the last living American hostage in Gaza.
Alexander also met with former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar last week, with the former official offering his apologies that Israel had failed to secure his release.
"I want to apologize to you for falling into captivity also because of us, and for the fact that you were released thanks to Witkoff and not thanks to us," Bar reportedly told the freed hostage.
The two also discussed Alexander's time under Hamas captivity, the trauma he experienced on October 7, and his worry for the remaining hostages.
Speaking with N12, Alexander described his captivity as "a year of hell," adding that he was forced to drink seawater, given only dirty bread to eat, and lost 20 kilograms in weight.
Alexander was discharged from Sourasky Medical Center on Friday Morning, The Jerusalem Post confirmed.
Eyal Shani runs several US-based restaurants
The celebrity chef is behind the kosher fast-casual restaurant chain Miznon in New York's Times Square, one of Shani’s four Miznon restaurants in Manhattan.
Shani also operates the Hasalon restaurant in Miami, which was the subject of news in 2023, when guests alleged that the management forcefully prohibited them from waving an Israeli flag. During the incident, the restaurant staff called the police, leading to the confiscation of the flags.
Corinne Baum contributed to this report.