Trump welcomes freed Israeli hostages, praises them as heroes

(JNS) - U.S. President Donald Trump warmly welcomed a delegation of former hostages and family members to the White House on Thursday. In a message shared by the White House, he told them: "You're not a hostage anymore ... today you're heroes."

The delegation consisted of 26 former hostages, including 17 of the 20 living captives who were released in the Gaza ceasefire deal that Trump brokered in October.

Trump handed each member of the delegation a special presidential coin. In his remarks to all the hostages, he said, "It's an honor to get to know all of you. I know some of you already. I know some of the previous hostages that we got out very well. We love you all, and our country loves you all ... You're amazing people."

Trump addressed captivity survivor Matan Angrest directly. "Because of his service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. Alone and under special guard, he went through hell," the president said. "Matan never broke, and today he's a living testimony to the toughness, heart and faith of the Jewish people. I'm telling you, you're a great inspiration to everybody."

Members of the group, supported by the Bring Them Home Now campaign, stressed that their mission would continue until the remains of the last captive were returned home to Israel for burial.

"The fight isn't over ... This won't be over until everyone comes home," the group posted on X.

Three bodies remain in Hamas custody, those of Israel Police Sgt. Maj. Ran Gvili and Dror Or, and Thai citizen Sudthisak Rinthalak, who was working in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

During the meeting, former hostages Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah recovered from the remains of their family home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where they were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023. They included a letter thanking Trump for his successful efforts to secure hostage releases.

Trump has met with hostage families several times since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, saying repeatedly that bringing all remaining hostages back is a top priority.