Families of 20 freed hostages thank Trump for deal that brought them home

After more than two years, 20 freed Israeli hostages were reunited with their loved ones on Monday. Many thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for their work in orchestrating the long-awaited reunion.

Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists alongside her partner, Avinatan Or, was delighted to have found “the love of my life”.

“Two years have passed since the last moment I saw Avinatan, the love of my life. Two years since the moment the terrorists kidnapped us, put me on a motorcycle and took me away from Avinatan in front of the whole world,” Argamani said. “I was held captive by Hamas for 246 days, while Avinatan was held for 738 days. I returned in a heroic rescue operation, and Avinatan returned as part of a deal. But against all odds, we both returned home and were reunited!”

ISRAELI HOSTAGES REUNION WITH FAMILIES IN EMOTIONAL MOMENTS

Families and loved ones of the hostages thanked President Donald Trump and his team for their efforts to bring everyone home. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“I cannot express in words the range of emotions I felt when I saw him for the first time after so long. Each of us has faced death countless times, and yet, after two years apart, we are finally taking our first steps together again in the State of Israel,” she added.

In his article on Argamani thanked the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for fighting and risking their lives to save the hostages. She also thanked the U.S. government, which she said “opened its doors to me and was always there to listen,” and praised White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Trump, whom she called “outstanding.”

Lishay Miran-Lavi also praised Trump and his team for reuniting his family. Her husband, Omri Miran, was captured on October 7, 2023, in the safe of their home, in front of her and their two daughters, Roni and Alma. At the time of Omri’s kidnapping, his daughter Alma was only six months old and only knew his face from hostage posters.

“Roni and Alma ran into their father’s arms, and he heard them say ‘daddy’ again. That moment fulfilled the promise I made on October 7 and healed something that words cannot describe,” Miran-Lavi wrote on X.

People gather in Hostages Square during a rally after Hamas agreed to a peace deal to end the two-year war and return the hostages. (Dana Reany/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

A SEPARATED COUPLE, KIDNAPPED DURING THE HAMAS ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7, FINALLY REUNITED AFTER THE HOSTAGE ORDEAL

“Thank you to the President (Donald Trump) and the entire Trump administration for their tireless efforts to bring Omri and the other hostages home. From the beginning, you made our cause your mission, you stood by the families and never gave up,” Miran-Lavi wrote. “To (Steve Witkoff), the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and to (Jared Kushner), thank you for your dedication, compassion and perseverance every step of this journey.”

Miran-Lavi also thanked Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his “conviction and diplomacy, for ensuring that the hostages and their families never left the agenda, and for leading with strength and humanity.”

In addition, Miran-Lavi recognized the efforts of senior administration officials who were “at our disposal 24 hours a day” and ensured that the doors of the White House were open to the families of the hostages “at all times.”

“Their determination and dedication have brought us to this long-awaited moment.”

People wave Israeli and American flags on Place des Otages during a rally in support of hostages and missing families following the peace deal between Israel and Hamas. (Dana Reany/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

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Relatives of several hostages also thanked Trump and his administration during a news conference Tuesday, including Viki Cohen, mother of Nimrod Cohen; Anat Angrest, mother of Matan Angrest; Iair Horn, captivity survivor and brother of Eitan Horn; and Dani Miran, father of Omri Miran.

At another press conference at another medical center in Israel, Macabit Mayer – the aunt of Gali and Ziv Berman – their brother, Liran Berman, and Miri Ben Ami, the mother of Yosef Chaim Ohana, all thanked Trump.

On Monday, hours after the hostages were released, Trump addressed the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset.

“This week, against all odds, we did the impossible and brought our hostages home,” Trump said.

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump promised to bring the hostages home and end the war. During the first ten months of his presidency, Israel experienced several rounds of hostage releases, culminating with the release of the last 20 living hostages on Monday.