 "Trump meets former hostages and their families at the White House. Image courtesy: @WhiteHouse/X")
US President Donald Trump hosted almost all the hostages freed by Hamas over the past month as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by him in October.
Speaking to the former hostages and their families at the White House, Trump said, “You’re not a hostage anymore… today you’re heroes.”
The delegation included 26 former hostages, including 17 of the 20 living captives who were released in the deal. Trump made a special mention of Matan Angrest, who served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF).
“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,” the president said.
Trump gave each hostage a special presidential coin to honour them, while the former captives brought gifts for the president to express their gratitude.
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View AllIn interviews before their White House visit, the former hostages expressed their intention to thank Trump for securing their release, while also urging him to continue applying pressure on Hamas to free the remains of the three deceased hostages still held in Gaza.
“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 said.
Israel launches strike
Meanwhile, Gaza health authorities said fresh Israeli air strikes killed five people on Thursday, as ceasefire mediator Qatar warned the renewed attacks threatened to undermine the fragile weeks-long truce between Israel and Hamas.
The new strikes came the morning after one of the deadliest days in the Gaza Strip since the truce began on October 10, and after Israel launched a series of attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon despite the nearly year-long ceasefire there.
Qatar, a key mediator in the Hamas-Israel war, condemned the latest air strikes as “a dangerous escalation that threatens to undermine the ceasefire agreement”.
With inputs from agencies