Seven individuals recently freed from Hamas captivity are heading to Washington, D.C., for meetings with U.S. officials.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters confirmed that Eli Sharabi, Doron Steinbrecher, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Omer Shem Tov, and Iair Horn will be meeting with officials from the Trump administration.
The released hostages intend to express their appreciation to the Trump administration for the president’s dedication to securing the return of all hostages.
They will also share their direct accounts of their experiences within Hamas’ tunnel network.
The delegation plans to emphasize to government officials the urgency of demanding that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately and in a single exchange.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke with Sharabi on Sunday.
“I greatly value the courageous manner in which you are sharing your story, and it’s also important that you share it with President Trump,” Netanyahu stated. “Our objective is to bring all the hostages back home, and we will not cease our efforts for even a moment.”
Sharabi responded that he was happy to be back home and with his family, but stressed that “the remaining hostages, particularly those who are still alive, must urgently return home to their families.”
“And of course, the hostages who have died, including my brother Yossi, must be brought back for burial in Israel so their families have a place to mourn,” Sharabi added.
On Sunday, Israel announced a halt to the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, warning Hamas of “additional consequences” if they reject a new proposal for an extended ceasefire. An Israeli official stated that this decision was coordinated with the Trump administration.
The White House supported Israel’s move, saying that the Jewish State has “negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists.”
The initial phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which involved increased humanitarian aid, ended on Saturday. The two sides have not yet negotiated the second phase, which calls for Hamas to release dozens of the remaining hostages in return for an Israeli withdrawal and a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli officials also indicated on Sunday their support for a proposal to extend the initial ceasefire phase through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. They mentioned that this proposal originated from Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy.
Under the proposed agreement, Hamas would release half of the hostages on the first day and the remaining hostages upon reaching an agreement for a permanent ceasefire, according to Netanyahu’s office.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israel also withdrew its forces from most of Gaza and permitted a significant increase in humanitarian aid to enter the region.
The conflict began with a Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of over 251 individuals. Hamas still holds 59 hostages, with 32 presumed to be dead.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, in response to the Hamas attack, has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not specify the number of terrorists versus civilians among the dead.
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