Families of Israeli hostages rally in DC to urge Trump to bring home every last loved one
Loved ones of Israeli hostages thanked President-elect Donald Trump in DC on Sunday for helping usher through a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas — and pleaded with the incoming administration to ensure every last soul held in Gaza is freed.The hopeful families made their voices heard during a rally in front of the Washington Monument on the eve of Trump’s inauguration as three women were released from Hamas captivity and reunited with their families in Israel after 15 months in hellish conditions.Noa Argamani, who was among 250 Israelis kidnapped back to the Palestinian territory on Oct.7, 2023 before she was rescued in June, said her “heart is in captivity” until she again sees her abducted partner still in Gaza.“I know what it’s like to be left behind, watching other hostages being released to their families.
My partner, Avinatan Or, and the many other hostages are only supposed to be freed in the second stage of this deal,” she said during the rally in frigid temperatures.“Meanwhile, every second feels like the last second of their lives.I know because I was there.
This is why it is absolutely critical that we put an end to this horrible tragedy and commit to a full and complete deal, to get all the hostages home to their families.Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity.”The first phase of the deal includes the return of 33 hostages over six weeks of peace with scores of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel also to be released.The second phase would bring back the rest of the living hostages but would require fighting in Gaza to come to an end, which could prove to be a difficult feat.
The third phase would include all bodies of dead hostages returned and the start of rebuilding Gaza.The two sides have been at war since Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis over a year ago, leading the Jewish state to carry out a military campaign in Gaza.There was only a brief pause in fighting in November 2023 during another cease-fire.Liran ...