Last month, President Trump brokered a historic peace deal that set all of the remaining, living Israeli hostages free. After spending years in the cruel captivity of Hamas, these innocent people finally came home and re-united with their families. On Thursday afternoon, President Trump welcomed a large group of recently-freed Israeli hostages and their families at the White House. President Trump met with freed Israeli hostages, saying, “You’re not a hostage anymore…today you’re heroes.”
In a ceremony, President Trump honored the former hostages as “heroes.” “You’re not a hostage anymore… today you’re heroes,” he said. “We love you all, and our country loves you all. You’re amazing people.” President Trump also personally handed each freed hostage a commemorative presidential challenge coin.
Among the hostages at Thursday’s event was Matan Angrest, who was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped while defending the Nahal Oz outpost. His mother, Anat Angrest, reported that her son was subjected to “very severe torture” at the beginning of his captivity because he was a soldier. “Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness,” Trump said. “And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. I guess you really were. I’ve heard stories that were not good. Look at you, how good you look. It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher,” he added.
Israeli twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with the original mezuzah from their home in Kfar Aza’s Young Generation neighborhood, where they were kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023. “We came to thank the President of the United States for the many actions he took toward our release,” they said in a statement through the Hostages Families Forum. “At the same time, it’s important to remember that the mission is not yet complete. There are three deceased hostages still being held in Gaza. Until everyone returns, we cannot begin our rehabilitation as a society and as a nation.” The pair also gave Trump a letter, which read: “This mezuzah was lovingly removed from the door of Gali’s room in our home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a community that endured unspeakable horrors on October 7, 2023. The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item is presented to you, for helping to save his life.”
It is a Guest post from our friends over at WLTReport.