Scott Jennings removes yellow ribbon pin honoring Israeli hostages after release

WASHINGTON, DC: Political commentator Scott Jennings shared an emotional moment live on CNN as he removed the yellow ribbon pin he had worn for two years in support of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

He replaced it with an American flag pin, marking their release. Jennings praised President Donald Trump for leading the negotiations that secured their freedom.

His powerful gesture came shortly after Trump announced a phase-one peace deal between Israel and Hamas, signaling an end to two years of conflict.

Scott Jennings removes hostage pin after release

A powerful moment unfolded live on CNN as Scott Jennings removed the pin he had worn for two years in honor of Israeli hostages.

“I’ve been wearing this pin for two straight years waiting for these hostages to come home,” Jennings said. “And I’ve been waiting to take it off. I’m going to take it off tonight because the 20 people came out."

As he placed the American flag pin on his lapel, Jennings called the release of the hostages “a huge victory for the American people, led by our president."

Scott Jennings praises Donald Trump’s leadership

Jennings credited President Donald Trump’s leadership for the breakthrough, saying, “But it was only through the power and the force of will of the president of the United States that 20 people returned to their families, that we have the beginnings of the possibility of a peaceful era in the Middle East.”

Reflecting on the broader impact, Jennings added, “And maybe a future can be had by millions upon millions of people in a place where it’s sometimes hard to visualize a future.”

He ended on a patriotic note: “And so I couldn’t be prouder to be an American tonight, because without the United States and without our president, this doesn’t happen”

Hamas releases 20 hostages to Israel

On Monday, October 15, Hamas released 20 hostages to the Red Cross, which brought them safely to Israel. The release was part of a new ceasefire agreement expected to end two years of war in the Gaza Strip.

The deal included the release of all living hostages, along with the return of bodies of those who had died. On the same day, officials confirmed that two hostages, once believed alive, were actually dead.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others.

As part of the ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, October 10, all remaining hostages were expected to be freed within 72 hours. In exchange, Israel agreed to release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis and roughly 1,700 detained without formal charges.

Trump met with families of the hostages at the Knesset on Monday, October 7, before delivering a speech to Israeli lawmakers.