US President
Donald Trump on Thursday welcomed 26 freed Israeli hostages and their families to the White House, honoring their resilience and hailing them as “heroes.”
“You’re not a hostage anymore,” President Trump told the freed hostages in the State Dining Room. “Today, you’re heroes,” he added.
The last living hostages in Gaza were released by Hamas last month, following a historic cease-fire deal spearheaded by Trump. Many of the survivors at the White House were among the last to be freed, having spent 738 days in captivity.
Trump described it as “an honor” to meet the freed hostages, many of whom were among the last to be released, according to clips posted by White House official Margo Martin. “We love you all, and our country loves you all,” he added.
As part of the meeting, President Donald Trump also presented each freed Israeli hostage with a presidential challenge coin as a gift to honour them. “These are super coins,” the president said.
The former hostages who met with Trump and other administration officials included Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Bar Kuperstein, Nimrod Cohen, Ziv and Gali Berman, Ariel and David Kunio, Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Segev Kalfon, Evyatar David, Eitan and Iair Horn, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Avinatan Or, Noa Argamani, Eitan Mor, and Elkana Bohbot, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah, a Torah-inscribed parchment that survived Hamas’ attack on their home on October 7, 2023. “This mezuzah was lovingly removed from the door of Gali’s room, in our home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza… The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item survived,” they wrote. “Out of deep respect and heartfelt gratitude, we present you with a small yet powerful symbol of protection and faith, drawn from the ruins of tragedy, as a gesture of honor and appreciation for your efforts in securing the return of the hostages.”
According to the NY Post, one of the hostages noted that while many have returned home, the ordeal is not fully over. “There are other families who are still experiencing the pain that our families experienced, it is not over until everyone returns,” they said, referring to the remains of three hostages that have yet to be returned to Israel by Hamas.
(With inputs from agencies)
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