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U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with 17 released Israeli hostages and their families at the White House on Thursday. Credit: The White House
U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with 17 released Israeli hostages and their families at the White House on Thursday. Credit: The White House
U.S. President Donald Trump met with 17 released Israeli hostages at the White House on Thursday, telling them, “You are not hostages anymore: You are heroes.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, which represents the former hostages and their families, said in a release that 17 of the 20 hostages went to the White House, including twins Gali and Ziv Berman from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
They presented Trump with the original mezuzah from the burnt house from which they were kidnapped. In a statement, the brothers said, “We came to thank the President of the United States for the many actions he took for our release. However, it is important to remember that the mission is not yet over. There are three kidnapped deceased individuals who are still being held in Gaza. Until everyone returns, we cannot begin our rehabilitation as a society and as a nation.”
Address freed hostage Matan Angrest, Trump said “Because of service in the [Israel Defense Forces], Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. He went through hell. 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.”
“But Matan never broke, and today he’s a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people,” Trump said. “Great knowing you, you’re great inspiration to everybody, whether you’re Jewish or not.”