An Israeli dressed as President Trump hands U.S. flags to supporters on Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Oct. 9, 2025. (Amelie Botbol/Fox News)
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum Headquarters expressed their “deep gratitude” to Trump and his team overnight Wednesday for their leadership and determination, which resulted in a “historic breakthrough.”
“There are 48 hostages still held by Hamas. Our moral and national duty is to bring them all home, both the living and the fallen. Their return is essential for the healing and renewal of Israeli society as a whole. We will not rest, and we will not be silent until the last hostage is home,” the statement said.
Harrosh Menashe, the uncle of Hamas hostage Elkana Bohbot, who was taken at the Supernova festival on Oct. 7 and is presumed alive, told Fox News Digital that Trump’s announcement felt like a “relief” while he visited Kibbutz Nahal Oz’s tent, in memory of the massacre victims, at the square.
“We already feel somewhat lighter, not as heavy as before. We hope to return to what we once were — but it must happen as soon as possible. For now, we’re floating in the air; we need to stay grounded and watch how things unfold,” Menashe added.
Harrosh Menashe, the uncle of Elkana Bohbot, poses by the Nahal Oz tent in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Oct. 9, 2025. (Amelie Botbol/Fox News)
The Israeli military announced preparations to receive the 20 living hostages at the Re’im base, located close to the Gaza border. This includes creating a dedicated area where they will be checked by medical officials and freshen up before reuniting with their families. Subsequently, the freed captives will be flown to hospitals across Israel, which have prepped dedicated departments.
Earlier this week, families of hostages sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, urging them to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, acknowledging he had “made possible what many said was impossible.”
“In this past year, no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump,” the letter stated. “While many have spoken eloquently about peace, he has achieved it. While others have offered empty promises, he has delivered tangible results that have saved countless lives.”
Trump and first lady Melania thanked the forum in a letter sent on Tuesday—the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre.
“My entire administration has been touched by the fact that, through the unimaginable pain and suffering of spending two years not knowing where your loved ones are, you have continued telling their stories and advocating on their behalf,” Trump wrote.
