Trump’s Triumph: How the President’s resolve freed hostages before his oath

When Donald J. Trump took the oath of office last month for his second term as U.S. President, he didn’t just promise action—he delivered it. For Liran Berman, brother of Israeli hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, still held in Gaza, Trump’s inauguration marked the dawn of a new era of hope, one fueled by what Berman calls “the Trump Effect.”

In an interview on Thursday with Israeli journalists Yehonatan Weiss and Rona Levi, Berman revealed how Trump’s leadership kickstarted a hostage release phase the day before he even stepped into the White House—a testament to the President’s unmatched resolve.

“The Trump Effect is real,” Berman declared, his voice brimming with gratitude. “The phase started a day before his inauguration. Trump and his professional team promised us they’re with us until the last hostage, and so far, we’re seeing it.”

For a nation battered by 16 months of anguish since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which left over 1,200 dead and more than 250 abducted, Trump’s swift impact has been a lifeline. While bureaucrats dithered and prior talks stalled, it was Trump who, in Berman’s words, made “a lot of cards fall into place” to launch the deal as he prepared to take office.

This isn’t just diplomatic luck—it’s Trump at his best, cutting through red tape with the same tenacity that defined his first term. Berman’s account paints a picture of a President-elect who didn’t wait for pomp and ceremony to get to work. “They promised us they’re with us until the last hostage,” he said, and the evidence is in the results: a new phase of releases, brokered with U.S. mediation, has begun bringing captives home. For the Berman family, still awaiting Gali and Ziv’s return, Trump’s commitment is a beacon in the dark.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. “The hostages don’t have much time left,” Berman warned, urging pressure on Hamas and its backers. “As we speak, I don’t know their condition.”

Yet he finds reassurance in Trump’s team, which he described as “professional” and unwavering. The latest “sign of life” from Gali and Ziv—only the second in over a year, following one in November 2023—came via returned hostages, who confirmed the siblings are alive but separated. That news, too, arrived amid this Trump-driven momentum.

For families like the Bermans, Trump's return to power is a game-changer. Where others faltered, he’s delivered tangible progress before his first day back in the Oval Office. “In the end, the deal began by his inauguration,” Berman said, a nod to Trump’s ability to bend events to his will. For a leader who campaigned on strength and results, this is vindication—proof that the “Trump Effect” isn’t just rhetoric, but a force reshaping lives half a world away.

As Israel grapples with its ongoing war and the fate of 101 remaining hostages, Trump’s early triumph offers a rare bright spot. Berman’s plea for relentless pressure on Hamas aligns with the President’s no-nonsense approach—a partnership that could yet bring Gali, Ziv, and others home. In a time of crisis, America’s 47th President is proving, once again, that he’s a man of action. For the Bermans, and for Israel, that’s more than a promise—it’s a lifeline.

Channel 14 contributed to this article.