President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was reportedly told by recently released hostages that their hope for freedom was lifted by news of Trump’s election.
Four recently released Israel Defense Forces soldiers told Witkoff that when they heard in captivity that Trump had won, they believed it would expedite their release, which ultimately came even sooner than they expected, The Times of Israel reported Sunday.
The report came from Israel’s Channel 12, which added the soldiers told their captors they expected Trump would lead to them getting freed.
The four IDF soldiers, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, and Karina Ariev met with Witkoff and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, sharing their stories.
Trump “could not be more happy” for the returned hostages, Witkoff told the soldiers and their families, according to the report.
“The people of the United States stand with you, the president stands with you, and we have a common goal to bring everybody home so everybody, every family can have this moment,” Witkoff said on Channel 12.
Albag added hearing the reports of the Trump-Witkoff effort to secure the return of hostages “gave us the hope to stay alive.”
To which, Witkoff replied, “That’s a big thing that you tell us.”
Witkoff and Trump worked with the previous administration during the transition to secure a ceasefire and hostage return before Trump took office, with Trump himself warning, All hell will break out” if Hamas did not start releasing its captives before Jan. 20 Inauguration Day.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
