Hugs and High Stakes: Freed Hostages Meet Kushner and Witkoff | WATCH

In a blend of profound emotional relief and urgent diplomatic pressure, a group of Israeli hostages recently freed from Gaza met this morning with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the architects of the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement.

The meeting, held in Tel Aviv, offered a poignant counterpoint to the day's other major development: the official identification of the remains of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak defender Tal Haimi, whose body was returned from the Gaza Strip late Monday.

"Hugs and Laughter" for the Architects

Approximately half of the hostages released last week under the US-brokered agreement attended the meeting with President Donald Trump’s special representatives. The atmosphere was described by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a mix of "hugs and laughter" as the former captives, including Omri Miran, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kupershtein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, and Eitan Horn, shared their appreciation.

Sources from the Hostages Forum indicated that many spoke privately with Kushner and Witkoff, with some presenting small gifts to show gratitude for their role in brokering the deal that ended their two-year captivity.

Crucially, the freed hostages used the moment not only for thanks but for advocacy, urging the US envoys to intensify efforts to retrieve the 15 bodies of fallen captives still held in Gaza. Witkoff reportedly reaffirmed the United States' "steadfast dedication" to completing the mission.

A Day of Duality: Life and Death

The meeting comes on the same day Israel confirmed the identity of Sergeant Major (res.) Tal Haimi, who was killed on October 7, 2023, while defending his kibbutz. His body was transferred to Israel late Monday, bringing partial closure to his wife, Ela, and their four children, one of whom was born after his death.

The duality of the day, the joy of reunion and the final, painful closure for a fallen hero, underscores the complex nature of the fragile ceasefire that Kushner and Witkoff are currently in Israel to reinforce.

The envoys, who met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, arrived amid increasing tensions after Hamas reportedly violated the truce by attacking Israeli troops in Rafah, killing two soldiers. Vice President JD Vance is also expected to take part into important meetings regarding Blue Shield 7 Operation, underscoring the Trump administration's commitment to salvaging the deal's future.

The US mediators, who last week confirmed meeting directly with a senior Hamas official to push the deal across the line, face a critical challenge: ensuring the full implementation of the agreement, which includes the return of all remaining bodies and securing the terms for the next phases of a long-term peace plan.

For the families of the fallen, Haimi's return, though heartbreaking, provides a precedent. For the released hostages, the meeting serves as a powerful reminder of the global effort behind their freedom and the urgent humanitarian task that remains.