The meeting the president has been waiting for: A month and a week after they emerged from hell, 17 survivors of the captivity who were released in the latest deal he led arrived in Washington. They posed for photos with Witkoff, accompanied by 9 more survivors who were released even earlier. Trump personally addressed Matan Engerst:"Because you were a soldier, you went through real hell. You are living testimony to the resilience of the Jewish people."
Itamar Eichner
,
Liha Gordon
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The expedition of captive survivors
Released in the last deal
She arrived at the White House in Washington this evening (Thursday), accompanied by captive survivors who were released in previous deals, to thank the President of the United States.
Donald Trump
For leading to their release.
The delegation
It included most of the hostages who had been held captive for more than two years, with the exception of Alon Ohel, Maxim Harkin, and Rom Breslavsky, who remained in the country. President Trump told them:"You are no longer hostages today - you are heroes, truly heroes," and received applause.
Trump also addressed the captivity survivor Matan Angress:"Because he was a soldier, Matan was subjected to great violence at the hands of his captors, to the point of losing consciousness. He went through true hell," the president said."But Matan did not break, and today he is a living testament to the resilience of the Jewish people. Matan - you are a true inspiration to all of us." He also presented the captivity survivors with the "Presidential Challenge Coin," given by US presidents as a sign of honor and appreciation.
7 Viewing the gallery
The meeting at the White House
With Witkoff, before the ceremonial meeting with Trump (Photo: Shmulik Almani)
"The fight is not over yet." The President at the White House
A total of 26 survivors of captivity arrived at the White House: Noa Argamani, Elkana Buchbot, Avinan Or, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Eitan Horn, Eviatar David, Yair Horn, Nimrod Cohen, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Ilana Grichevsky, Matan Tsengauker, Matan Engerst, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, David Cuneo, Sharon Aloni-Cuneo with her children Emma and Yuli, Ariel Cuneo, Arbel Yehud, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran and Eitan Mor.
Before the meeting, several survivors of the captivity issued a statement."The struggle is not over yet. We are here in Washington, we came to close our circle, but there are other families who are still experiencing the pain that our families experienced. It is not over until everyone returns. There is a rally on Saturday night, I ask everyone to come. The more people, the better." Everyone - now!" they chanted.
Kuperstein and Trump. The survivor of captivity brought the president a kippa with his picture (Photo: from Instagram)
Captivity survivor Bar Kuperstein posted a photo to his Instagram account next to Trump - wearing a kippah he brought him with a picture of the president on it."Standing here today is more than a personal moment for me, it is a victory of an entire people, of faith, of a strong Jewish identity that accompanies me every step of the way," Kuperstein wrote."Thank you America, thank you Donald Trump, and thank you for everything you have done for us."
The Israeli Embassy in Washington said that before the meeting with Trump, the delegation met with senior US officials, including the special envoy for the Middle East.
Steve Witkoff
- who was one of the architects and leaders of the deal - and the Minister of Commerce
Howard Lutnick
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and advisor, also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, captivity survivors Gali and Ziv Berman gave Trump a gift from a Gaza village -
Mezuzah from their home that was burned in the Hamas massacre
"This is the original mezuzah from the door of the burned-down house from which they were kidnapped, in the Dor Tza'ir neighborhood of the kibbutz," their family said this evening.
Jared Kushner speaks, alongside Trump and Witkoff
From right to left: Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Keith Siegel, Ziv and Gali Berman, Omri Miran, David and Ariel Kunio (Photo: Shmulik Almani)
Omri Miran with his wife Lishi and his father Danny, alongside senior government officials (Photo: Shmulik Almani)
Captivity survivor Eitan Mor also prepared
A unique gift for the president - a spinning top
, on the occasion of the upcoming Hanukkah holiday. In a letter attached to the scroll, Eitan's father - Zvika - wrote why the family chose this particular gift."I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your uncompromising leadership and support in bringing our loved ones home," he wrote."Our children were among the abductees held in Gaza for 738 endless days."
After Trump suggested sending a special plane to collect the captive survivors from the country, Israel insisted on financing and managing the trip - and flew the delegation, which includes captive survivors who were released from captivity only a month and a week ago, on a commercial Arkia flight. The members of the delegation landed in New York, and from there they were driven in upgraded minibuses to Washington, a 4-5 hour drive.
President Donald Trump led the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas as part of
