Families of Gaza hostages sent US President Donald Trump a video thanking him following the announcement that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas had been reached, Trump posted in an early Thursday morning Truth Social post.
"We are the families of hostages. We came here to Washington, DC, this week to mark the October 7 attack against our people when our loved ones were captured by Hamas terrorists," the video said.
"And today, President Trump has done it. He announced just now that our loved ones, the hostages, are coming home. We will not stop fighting until we see the last of the 48 return to their family, those who were murdered in captivity, buried in the Land of Israel, those who are still alive, walking through the border and reuniting with their families. Thank you, President Trump, for your courage. Thank you to the Trump administration for doing everything you can to bring them home."
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also welcomed the announcement in an official statement.
"The families of the hostages received the news of the agreement to bring back all 48 hostages and the one female hostage with emotion, anticipation, and apprehension," the statement read.
The forum also called on the Israeli government to convene immediately to approve the agreement.
'God bless the peacemakers'
In a later video posted by the forum, Trump can be heard saying that the living hostages will be home on Monday.
In the video, the group expresses their gratitude to the president and asks questions about the deal.
"Matan returns home, to me, to Natalie and Shani," Einav Zangauker, mother of Gaza hostage Matan, wrote on X/Twitter.
"For these tears, I prayed."
Former hostages, families celebrate across Israel
"Home, home, my Matan," Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan, wrote. "The time has come to return."
"Thank you, God," former hostage Omer Wenkert wrote on Instagram, posting a video of him raising a glass to the hostages.
“I can’t breathe," Meirav Gilboa Dalal, mother of the hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal, told N12.
"I’m waiting for the moment I finally get my son back, for him to rest his head on my shoulder and for me to tell him, ‘That’s it, it’s over.’ The main thing is that he comes back healthy and whole, on his feet. We’re all so happy. I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand when I see him, or that I won’t faint. It will be the happiest day of my life, my new birthday.”
In a video posted by the forum, former hostage Ohad Ben-Ami called out Elkana Bohbot, Segev Kalfon, Maksym Harkin, Bar Kupershtein, and Yosef Haim Ohana, with whom he had been held with in captivity.
Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen was killed on October 7, and whose body is being held by Hamas, expressed his thanks to Trump and his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with the Israeli negotiation team.
"We are still nervous if and when Itay and the other hostages on the deceased list will be found and brought back to us," he wrote.
Waiting for friends to return home
Hostage survivors Omer Shem Tov and Elia Cohen went live on Instagram after hearing the news to celebrate with friends.