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Dear A.,
They're home!
The moment we've prayed for, hoped for, and worked for has arrived.
Thanks to the determination of the Israeli people, the heroes of the IDF, and the incredible support of the United States, all the living hostages were freed from captivity and returned to Israel this morning.
Matan Angrest, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Nimrod Cohen, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Omri Miran, Eitan Abraham Mor, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Or, and Matan Zangauker have now been reunited with their families.
The joy we all feel at their return is met with the ongoing and reverberating pain of the past two years, and our hearts are with the loved ones of the murdered hostages still in Gaza and those who paid the ultimate price in this war.
The living hostages were delivered this morning from Hamas captivity by the Red Cross to IDF troops in Gaza. The images and videos of the hostages coming home are incredibly powerful.
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Left, Alon Ohel; Right, Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
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Left, brothers Gali and Ziv Berman embrace upon their release; Right, Eitan Mor with an IDF soldier.
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Left, Avinatan Or celebrates his release; Right, Matan Angrest.
The freed hostages were taken to the Re'im base in Gaza and were then reunited with their families.
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Left, Alon Ohel with his family; Right, Omri Miran, a father of two, embraces his wife.
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Left, Eitan Mor and his parents; Right, Matan Zangauker reunites with his mother.
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Left, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and his family; Right, Evyatar David and his parents.
As the hostages were being released, Israelis across the country gathered to celebrate together.
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Following the hostages' release, President Trump arrived in Israel and delivered a speech to the Israeli Knesset. We deeply appreciate his personal commitment to working with Israel to free the hostages, remove Hamas, and end this war.
I encourage you to click below to watch the full speech.
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On the return of the hostages: "After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families. 28 more precious loved ones are coming home, at last, to rest in this sacred soil for all of time. And after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace."
On Iran: "Thanks to the bravery and skills of the Israeli Defense Forces and Operation Rising Lion… And with Operation Midnight Hammer… we stopped the number one state sponsor of terror from obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapons."
On Israeli resolve and the U.S.-Israel relationship: "The story of fierce Israeli resolve and triumph since October 7th should be proof to the entire world that those who seek to destroy this nation are doomed to bitter failure. The State of Israel is strong, and it will live and thrive forever. And that is why Israel will always remain a vital ally of the United States of America."
"I love Israel, and I am with you all the way," he concluded.
The president is now in Egypt for a conference with world leaders on the future of Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited to attend, but declined due to the beginning of the Simchat Torah holiday.
For the past two years, our community has led the fight in Washington to ensure the United States stood with our ally.
The ironclad relationship we have spent decades working to strengthen and expand ensured Israel had the resources and support needed to defend its families and defeat its enemies, and was the foundation for the historic peace deal brokered by President Trump.
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have issued statements of support for Israel, the hostages, and the peace deal to remove Hamas from power and create opportunities for a better future for people across the Middle East.
We applaud the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Congress that has stood with Israel throughout this war.
There is a long road ahead for the newly-freed hostages, for Israel, and for our work together. But today, we can simply celebrate that the hostages are finally home.
For more photos and videos, please see below my signature.
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.
Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
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Freed hostages are reunited with their families.
Yosef-Chaim Ohana
Maxim Herkin
Ziv and Gali Berman
Eitan Horn
Nimrod Cohen
Alon Ohel
Segev Kalfon
Rom Braslavski
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The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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