Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered on Saturday evening at Kikar HaKtzofim in Tel Aviv to mark the anticipated return of hostages, joined by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and accompanied by Ivanka Trump.
The crowd welcomed the envoys with cheers, applause, and shouts of “Thank you!”
Witkoff addressed the crowd: “I’ve been waiting for this night. I only wish President Trump could be here to see this. He would have loved it.” The crowd responded with chants of “Thank you, Trump.”
He added, “Tonight we are united in prayer for peace. We are celebrating a moment many thought impossible. Peace born from the courage of those who refused to give up hope. You carried the weight of hope on your shoulders for the world.”
Kushner highlighted Trump’s role, saying, “Every time we hit a wall, we said, ‘Let’s try again.’ Seeing Trump’s commitment to Middle East prosperity is unlike anything else. Thank you for your dedication to ending this terrible conflict.”
He continued, “Tonight, I could not be prouder to be a friend of the State of Israel. Since October 7, my heart has not been whole, seeing the hostages and their families ending the nightmare, and witnessing the suffering end for the people of Gaza, many of whom were born into this horrific situation.”
