Families of Israeli hostages gathered near the White House in a powerful show of solidarity, calling for the release of their loved ones ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The crowd, numbering in the thousands, came together to demand action for the hostages still held by Hamas.
One woman shared her emotional testimony, recounting her own harrowing experience of being kidnapped from her home on October 7, where she was held captive for 55 days. She spoke of the fear, hunger, and torment she endured but expressed gratitude for her release in the first exchange. “But I was one of the lucky ones. I made it out on the first deal. My partner, Matan, did not. Matan is still there. 79 hostages are still there,” she said, her voice breaking.
She continued, “I have lived through that pain. I know what they are going through right now.” Addressing President Trump directly, she pleaded, “President Trump, I know you don’t walk away. I know you don’t stop until the job is done. Please don’t stop now. If this deal falls apart, the hostages will die. You are the only one who can stop it from happening.”
Her emotional plea resonated with the crowd, which responded with chants of “Bring them home, now!”
Ahead of his meeting with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted a photo of him preparing for the crucial discussions.
Earlier, the Israeli PM’s Office shared a statement from Netanyahu, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming talks. “In this meeting, we’ll deal with critical issues facing Israel and our region: victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and addressing the Iranian terror axis that threatens Israel, the Middle East, and the world,” the statement read.
Netanyahu added, “The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better.”