Freed Israeli Hostages Meet President Trump at White House, Thank Him for Role in Securing Their Release

President Donald Trump met 26 freed Israeli hostages and their family members at the White House on Thursday, telling them they were “heroes” as he welcomed them for a closed-door gathering in the State Dining Room. The Israeli delegation was made up of 26 former hostages, including 17 of the 20 living captives who were released in the deal in October. The remaining participants were previously freed hostages who joined the visit to thank the president and stand alongside.

“You are not a hostage anymore—today, you are heroes, you're truly heroes,” Trump said, drawing applause from the delegation. He told them, “It’s an honor to get to know all of you,” and added, “We love you all, and our country loves you all.”

The delegation included Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Bar Kuperstein, Nimrod Cohen, Ziv and Gali Berman, Ariel and David Kunio, Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Segev Kalfon, Evyatar David, Eitan and Iair Horn, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Avinatan Or, Noa Argamani, Eitan Mor and Elkana Bohbot. Three former hostages, Alon Ohel, Maxim Herkin and Rom Braslavski, remained in Israel.

Trump highlighted what Matan Angres endured in Gaza. “He went through hell,” the president said. “Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher. Matan never broke, and today he’s a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. You’re a great inspiration to everybody, whether you’re Jewish or not.”

During the meeting, Trump presented each of the former hostages with a presidential challenge coin, telling them, “These are super coins.” 

The delegation also brought gifts of their own. Twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah that survived the Hamas attack on their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. They explained that it had been removed from Gali’s bedroom door after the house was burned on October 7. “This mezuzah was lovingly removed from the door of Gali’s room… The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item survived,” they wrote in a note. The family added that it was “the original mezuzah from the door of the house that was burned during the Hamas massacre.”

During the meeting, released hostage Omri Miran described his abduction from Nahal Oz. “When I was kidnapped from Nahal Oz and separated from my family, my eldest daughter ran after me and shouted ‘Dad!’” he said. “For half a year, I did not know what had become of them, until I saw Lishi on television. I knew I had something to live for when I saw her. Today, my daughter says ‘Dad,’ and I am here, answering her. It is thanks to you.”

Earlier in the day, the delegation met senior U.S. officials, including Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, one of the architects of the deal, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

As they gathered in Washington, the former hostages emphasized that their focus extends beyond the celebration of their return. “The struggle is not over yet, there are other families who are still experiencing the pain that our families experienced, it is not over until everyone returns,” they said.

Danny Miran, father of released hostage Omri Miran, praised the show of support. “Today we were able to bring both sides of the House, Democrats and Republicans, together into one room,” he said. Approaching Hanukkah, he added, “This is an opportunity to thank you… for all these lights you have lit for us.”

In their final message at the White House, survivors urged continued pressure on Hamas to return the three bodies of hostages still held in Gaza, saying the work remains unfinished until every captive is brought home.