Trump welcomes freed Israeli hostages to White House, calls them ‘heroes’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump welcomed more than a dozen freed Israeli hostages and their families to the White House on Thursday, November 20, praising their resilience after 738 days in Hamas captivity. At a private gathering inside the State Dining Room, Trump told the survivors, “You’re not a hostage anymore. Today, you’re heroes.”

The visit marked the group’s first official trip to Washington since their release last month, following a historic cease-fire and hostage agreement facilitated by the Trump administration.

President Trump personally gave each freed Israeli hostage a presidential challenge coin.

Survivors recount brutal captivity as Donald Trump praises resilience

Many of the former hostages had been held in underground tunnels for more than two years, enduring physical abuse, starvation, and psychological trauma. Trump singled out Matan Angrest, an Israel Defense Forces soldier who suffered severe beatings during captivity.

“Matan never broke, and today he is a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and bravery of the Jewish people. Matan, you are a great inspiration to everybody,” Trump said.

“He went through hell,” Trump added. “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.”

The group included 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, according to Israeli media.

Trump presented each freed hostage with a presidential challenge coin, calling them “super coins.”

Gali and Ziv Berman present mezuzah as symbol of faith

In an emotional moment, twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah rescued from the ruins of their home after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

In a note to Trump, the Berman twins wrote: “The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item survived. Out of deep respect and heartfelt gratitude, we present you with a symbol of protection and faith as a gesture of honor and appreciation for your efforts in securing the return of the hostages.”

Trump held the mezuzah for several moments before thanking the family for what he called “a powerful symbol born from unimaginable tragedy.”

Families stress fight continues as three hostages remain missing

Despite the celebratory tone, some survivors reminded the administration that their ordeal was not fully over. They urged global pressure on Hamas to return the remains of three Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

“There are other families still experiencing the pain our families experienced,” one former hostage said. “It is not over until everyone returns.”

The White House emphasized that securing the remains of the remaining hostages remains a priority in ongoing negotiations with regional partners.

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