Former Hamas hostages are urging key leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkov, to prioritize the release of remaining captives, even if that means pausing military actions. Following the release of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli, earlier this week, a group of 65 former prisoners has reached out to these officials, imploring them to maintain the momentum of this significant moment.
The letter emphasizes that “the Israeli government has a genuine chance to return to the negotiation table” and calls on all parties to stay engaged until a comprehensive agreement is finalized.
Edan Alexander’s release has created a “window of opportunity” for broader negotiations regarding hostages during Trump’s visit to the region. On October 7, 2023, Hamas had taken 251 hostages, of whom 121 were Americans. While individuals like Keith Siegel, Edan Alexander, and Sagui Dekel Chen have returned home, the remains of Hirsch Goldberg Porin were recovered from Gaza in August 2023. Furthermore, Hamas continues to hold the bodies of several confirmed deceased Americans: Omar Neutra, Itai Chen, Judith Weinstein Hagai, and Gadi Hagai.
Siegel, a participant in the letter, expressed his gratitude to Trump for facilitating his release and maintains a belief in the president’s significant role. He, along with other former hostages, is now advocating for the freedom of all remaining individuals in Gaza, irrespective of their citizenship.
During his time in the Middle East, Trump has sought to negotiate deals that could be advantageous for Israel, although recent agreements appear to overlook the situation of other hostages. He has suggested that Syria might consider joining the Abraham Accord in return for easing sanctions and normalizing relations with Israel. Trump has also insisted that Damascus must expel “Palestinian terrorists” and indicated that the U.S. will prevent any resurgence of ISIS while addressing concerns related to its detentions in northeastern Syria.
As of now, Netanyahu’s office has not commented on the letter, and the White House was not able to provide a response before the publication.
