Former hostages held captive by Hamas are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witcoff to expedite efforts in securing the release of those still in captivity. Following the recent liberation of American Israeli Edan Alexander, a group of 65 survivors of Hamas captivity implored the afore-mentioned leaders to seize the opportunity presented and push for a comprehensive resolution without delay. The hostages, released since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, included Keith Siegel, Edan Alexander, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, while Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s remains were later recovered. Despite these releases, multiple Americans have been confirmed dead, including Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Judith Weinstein Haggai, and Gadi Haggai.
The former hostages have penned a letter, voiced their belief in the Israeli government’s current opportunity to re-engage in negotiations and pleaded that all parties remain committed until a comprehensive agreement is reached and signed. This plea comes amid news reports suggesting a potential window of opportunity for wider hostage deal negotiations, further energized by Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East. As of now, no formal comments have been given by Netanyahu’s office or the White House.
Keith Siegel, one of the signatories of the letter and a former hostage, has previously expressed gratitude towards Trump for his role in securing his release, crediting the president for saving his life. Now, along with other former captives, Siegel is advocating for the freedom of all remaining hostages, regardless of nationality. In recent days, Trump has been active in negotiating deals for the U.S., which indirectly could benefit Israel, though these discussions do not explicitly pertain to the ongoing hostage issue.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/hamas-captivity-survivors-appeal-netanyahu-trump-after-edan-alexanders-release
