Trump Addresses Knesset as All Living Hostages Return to Israel From Hamas Captivity

Latest Developments

• Trump Warmly Received by Knesset: President Donald Trump heralded a new “golden age for the Middle East” during a historic address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, on October 13, following the release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas after 738 days of captivity in Gaza. “This is not only the end of a war. This is the end of an age of terror and death, the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God,” Trump declared. Trump was met with enthusiastic applause, with some legislators wearing red baseball caps stating, “Trump The Peace President.”
• Hostages Released in Two Stages: The first seven hostages were handed over to the Red Cross by their Hamas captors and transferred to the IDF , who escorted them to an army base near the Re’im community, where they were reunited with their immediate families before being airlifted to Israeli hospitals to receive medical care. Those released included Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dallal.  Later in the morning, Hamas transferred another 13 living hostages to the Red Cross, including Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, and Ariel Cunio. In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, tens of thousands of Israelis stayed throughout the night awaiting the hostages’ release, hugging, cheering, singing, and waving flags as news of the release was broadcast on giant TV screens.
• Hamas Breaches Deal to Release All Slain Hostages: Hamas delivered on October 13 the remains of only four of the 28 slain Israelis it holds captive — the corpses believed to be of Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez  — despite being obliged to return all of them under the first phase of the deal brokered by Trump and his team of negotiators. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said that it was “shocked and dismayed,” calling the delay a “blatant breach of the agreement.”  Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that “Hamas’s announcement of the expected return of four bodies today constitutes a failure to meet its commitments,” adding that “any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a blatant violation of the agreement and will be met accordingly.”

FDD Expert Response

“Forcing Hamas to release the hostages — a two-year-long war crime — is a significant achievement. The lion’s share of the credit goes to President Trump and Israel’s warfighters. But for Hamas and others who proclaim themselves jihadis, this is only a ‘hudna,’ a truce in a very long war. The policies Americans, Israelis, and other defenders of Western civilization make going forward must recognize this harsh reality.” — Clifford D. May, Founder and President

“For Israelis and Jews worldwide, this marks the end of a two-year nightmare — hostages starved and tortured by Hamas since the barbaric massacre on October 7, 2023. It took a president who never forgot them and never allowed daylight between Washington and Jerusalem to achieve this outcome. President Trump gave Israel the full backing it needed to use military force to destroy Hamas. But we must remember, Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas isn’t with a nation, instead it’s with a terrorist group that sees the destruction of Gaza and the deaths of its own civilians as a ‘necessary sacrifice’ for its genocidal cause. Hamas will not honor agreements or abandon its goal of Israel’s destruction. That’s why Trump’s 20-point plan must be implemented in full — with Hamas’s full disarmament and removal from power at its core.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“While the entire country rejoiced at the return of the living hostages today, 24 families had their hopes shattered. For those families, the torment of October 7 will continue, and there will be no closure until the remains of their loved ones are returned.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

FDD Background and Analysis

“Trump to Co-Chair Summit on Gaza’s Future During Middle East Visit,” FDD Flash Brief

“FAQ: What To Know About Phase One of the Gaza Ceasefire,” by Aaron Goren

“Profiles of notable terrorists Israel will release in ceasefire deal with Hamas,” by Joe Truzman and Ahmad Sharawi

“Gaza Ceasefire Implemented Ahead of Hostage Release,” FDD Flash Brief