The dad and mom of the American hostages nonetheless held by the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza have known as on President Donald Trump to make use of his fame for being “robust” and apply strain on not solely identified enemies however certainly one of his closest allies: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
There are 59 hostages nonetheless in Gaza, at the least 24 of whom are assessed to be alive, together with American-Israeli Edan Alexander, now 21 years outdated after having spent two birthdays in Hamas captivity.
Itay Chen, 19, Omer Neutra, 21, Judy Weinstein Haggai, 70, and her husband, Gadi Weinstein, 73, are all believed to have been killed by Hamas in it is assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose our bodies have been taken into Gaza.
“I consider that the president is a really robust particular person, and he ought to be robust with the enemies and with pals as effectively,” Adi Alexander, who’s Edan’s father, informed Fox Information Digital in a direct reference to Israel.
Edan Alexander and household (Adi Alexander)
“We requested of the president to maintain everyone accountable,” Alexander, who sat subsequent to his spouse, Yael, described after the second part of a ceasefire, which was supposed to start in March however failed and Israel resumed navy operations within the Gaza Strip to the immense frustration of mediators.
As well as, the households urged Trump to maintain Netanyahu “on a brief leash” and to “get him again to barter as quickly as attainable and cease this factor.”
Trump this week marked his one centesimal day in workplace, and the households of the 5 People nonetheless held hostage urged him to mirror on his technique and apply strain on each Israel and Hamas, by each financial and diplomatic means, to safe the release of all 59 hostages.
“With the election outcomes, we had such excessive hopes,” Ruby Chen, father to Itay, informed reporters throughout a press occasion on Wednesday. “We all know he cares in regards to the subject, and we noticed, even earlier than the inauguration, his feedback on the subject with the ‘hell to pay’ and ‘all of the hostages want to come back out.’”
“However I feel the 100-day mark that we’re at this second, I feel it is a good time to mirror and say that the job’s not carried out,” mentioned Chen, sitting subsequent to his spouse, Hagit Chen.
Trump sparked worldwide concern in February when he steered the Gaza Strip should be turned into the “Riviera of the Center East,” and fears have mounted that as Washington continues to debate doubtlessly displacing Palestinians and Israel continues aggressive navy operations, Hamas could also be unwilling to surrender its leverage: the hostages.
Hagit Chen and her son, Itay, who was 19 years outdated when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. (Hagit Chen)
Calls within the Gaza Strip are rising from Palestinians to return all of the hostages so a day-after plan may be mentioned as Palestinian civilians proceed to really feel the results of the brutal battle.
“It is easy rhetoric to say that Hamas will not maintain their facet of the deal,” Orna Neutra, mother to Omer, informed reporters. “If they do not maintain their facet of the deal, then [Netanyahu] can return to hostilities.
“However let’s permit them to launch all hostages and see if that occurs or not as a substitute of simply saying they received’t do it,” she added, noting it might be one other leveraging level for the Trump administration.
The households of the hostages are cautious to not get overly concerned within the heated political subjects, however as a substitute they’ve highlighted the significance of and wish for a strong technique to first safe the discharge of all remaining hostages, after which work out a day-after plan.
Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff has steered that Hamas may change into politically energetic within the Gaza Strip, however they should absolutely disarm.
“I feel the most effective strategy can be simply to name for each events to rise above politics, though it will likely be very tough with Hamas, which is politically struggling to outlive on this area, however undoubtedly to name on [the] Israeli authorities to rise above politics,” Alexander mentioned. “Don’t take into consideration politically surviving and prioritize human life.”
Emaciated Israeli hostages, from left, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy, who have been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, are taken by terrorists to a stage earlier than being handed over to the Crimson Cross in Deir al-Balah within the central Gaza Strip on Feb. 8, 2025. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The households pointed to polling from Israel that reveals almost 70% of Israelis favor ending navy operations in opposition to Hamas to be able to return all of the hostages greater than 573 days since they have been kidnapped, together with some 48% of Netanyahu’s coalition base. Some 39% of his conservative base apparently oppose the technique, and one other 13% are uncertain.
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Whereas there may be evident frustration among the many households of the hostages, who’ve made clear the Israeli authorities has not provided wherever close to the identical degree of help or communication supplied by each the Biden and Trump administrations, they mentioned that, finally, the adversary is the terrorist group that captured, in some cases killed, and continues to carry captive their family members.
“Simply to be clear, Hamas is the enemy,” mentioned Neutra, who sat subsequent to her husband, Ronen. “Hamas dedicated these atrocious crimes. They’re holding on to our members of the family. We do not need to see them proceed to be a menace to Israel.
“Nevertheless it’s about precedence, and it is about being within the state of affairs for 19 months now,” she added.
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