Trump Honors Survivors: "You Are Not Hostages, You Are Heroes" Message Delivered at White House Meeting

A delegation of 17 Israeli individuals who survived captivity in Gaza, accompanied by 53 family members and escorts, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington today (Thursday). The emotional gathering followed high-level meetings with senior American officials and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Upon meeting the delegation, President Trump offered a powerful welcome, declaring: "You are not hostages, you are heroes."

Emotional Exchange with the President

During the meeting, President Trump addressed survivor Matan Angrest, highlighting the severity of his experience: "Because he was a soldier, Matan was subjected to great violence by his captors, to the point of losing consciousness. He went through a genuine hell. But Matan was not broken, and today he is a living testament to the resilience of the Jewish people. Matan, you are a true inspiration to all of us."

At the conclusion of his remarks, the President presented each of the survivors and their escorts with the Presidential Coin.

The delegation included several notable survivors, among them Omri Miran, Bar Kupershtein, Nimrod Cohen, twins Ziv and Gali Berman, Ariel and David Cunio, Matan Tzangauker and his partner Ilana Grichevsky (who was also a survivor), Guy Gilboa Dalal, Segev Kalifon, Evitar David, Eitan and Yair Horn, Yosef Haim Ohana, Avinatan Or and his partner Noa Argamani (who was also a survivor), Eitan Mor, and Elkana Bochbot.

High-Level White House Engagements

Before meeting with President Trump, the Israeli delegation held meetings with other senior American officials in the White House. According to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, the group met with Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The visit was organized as part of a comprehensive initiative by Israel’s Prisoners and Missing Persons Directorate.

Gift from the Ashes and Congressional Support

As a central and deeply symbolic gesture, survivors Gali and Ziv Berman presented President Trump with a Mezuzah recovered from their burned-down home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. They explained the significance of the gift, which was accompanied by a personal letter expressing profound gratitude for the actions taken to secure their freedom.

The visit to Washington began yesterday (Wednesday) on Capitol Hill, where the delegation met with the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for the Return of Hostages and Captives, led by Representatives French Hill and Haley Stevens.

Attendees described a moving and non-partisan atmosphere where Democrats and Republicans alike gathered to hear the survivors' accounts. Congresswoman Stevens affirmed their commitment: "We will continue to be your allies and your friends forever, we will continue to wear the pin and tell your story."

Survivor Omri Miran shared a deeply personal recollection of his captivity: "When I was abducted from Nahal Oz, and separated from my family, my eldest daughter ran after me screaming 'Dad!' For six months, I did not know what happened to them until I saw Lishi on television. I knew I had something to live for when I saw her. Today my daughter says 'Dad' and I am here, answering her. This is thanks to you."

The journey itself was logistically complex; the delegation traveled to New York on an Arkia charter flight, a change from an initial proposal by Envoy Witkoff to fly them on an American aircraft, before driving to Washington.