A group of seven individuals who were recently released from Hamas’ captivity is set to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with officials from the U.S. government. The released hostages, which include Eli Sharabi, Doron Steinbrecher, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Omer Shem Tov, and Iair Horn, will be meeting with members of the Trump administration as confirmed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters. Their goal is to express gratitude to the Trump administration for its efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages from Hamas captivity.
During their visit, the hostages will share personal accounts of their experiences in Hamas’ underground tunnels and will advocate for the immediate return of all remaining hostages in a single phase. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has communicated his support for their mission, emphasizing the importance of bringing all hostages back home and not dropping efforts until this goal is achieved.
Furthermore, Israeli officials have announced a halt to the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip unless Hamas accepts a new proposal for an extended ceasefire. This decision was made in coordination with the Trump administration. The ceasefire agreement, which included an increase in humanitarian assistance, initially expired, and discussions regarding the next phase, involving the release of remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire, have not yet taken place.
The White House has expressed support for Israel’s stance, emphasizing the Jewish state’s good faith negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Israeli officials have also hinted at support for extending the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, according to a proposal from Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in numerous deaths and kidnappings. While Hamas has released a portion of the hostages and the remains of others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, they continue to hold 59 hostages, with 32 believed to be deceased. The Israeli response to the attack has led to a significant number of Palestinian casualties, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/delegation-hostages-released-hamas-traveling-dc-meet-trump-admin-officials
