After meeting with Edan Alexander, who was released from Hamas captivity Monday night President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for the Middle East, together with Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler, visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv Tuesday and met with families of the hostages.
Video: Wikoff and Boehler speak at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum / Courtesy
During the meeting, Witkoff and Boehler emphasized their personal commitment to bringing back the remaining 58 hostages, both living and deceased. Witkoff told the families, "We are committed to returning all hostages – both living and deceased. We won't accept anything less than everyone's return. This is the president's mission. We all want to see a diplomatic solution. The fact is that most survivors came out through diplomatic solutions. If Adam and I didn't believe there's a chance for progress in negotiations, we wouldn't have traveled to Doha."
Hanna Cohen, aunt of Israeli hostage Inbar Hayman, told Israel Hayom about Witkoff: "He tried very hard not to touch our political matters. His aspiration for a larger deal that includes deceased hostages and living hostages is evident. He understands the need to return the deceased because he has a child who is no longer alive."
According to Cohen, she left the conversation feeling positive, "People asked questions, Witkoff was very kind and sat with us for a long time, and spoke patiently. I hope everything will be okay. I drew hope from his words, and I want to believe they're true. Witkoff said he trusts Netanyahu that he does want to bring everyone back."
Sharon Sharabi, brother of the deceased hostage Yossi Sharabi, emphasized the urgency, "We have no time. Witkoff knows this and is committed to the mission. Adam Boehler said that Israel was born from the Holocaust and Nazism and I know this Holocaust cannot be repeated. The State of Israel experienced a mini-Holocaust on October 7, and we won't let it happen again. I'm sure the Americans understand this well, hope the families will see their loved ones soon, and we can leave this issue behind us, but also analyze and learn from it."
According to Sharabi, Witkoff said their entire schedule is dedicated to the mission of releasing the hostages. "'Hostages must not remain in the hell of the Middle East. Israel needs to move forward with countries in the region to jointly defeat terrorism threats,' he said. These are very clear words, and as families of hostages, we know the American administration is doing everything to bring the hostages home."
Rubi, father of captured soldier Itai Chen, added, "The fact that Witkoff sat with us for more than two hours is truly a special act. I'm sorry that the Israeli government doesn't do something similar with the families. Witkoff is here until the last hostage [returned] and will do what he can until that happens. He said if he didn't think it would help him to be here, he wouldn't have traveled. There's optimism here."
Ayelet Samerano, whose son Yonatan is a hostage, described the meeting as empowering, "We met with Witkoff in the room that has accompanied us since October 7. It was empowering and strengthening. We leave optimistic, we were told that the Trump administration is committed until the last hostage. They see eye to eye on everything with the Israeli government. Hoping we'll get our hostages back soon. Adam Boehler joined, and we saw that these are two strong people who, inspired by President Trump, will do everything for us."
"I came out strengthened from the meeting," the father of Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi said. "I thank Trump and the Israeli government that's working with them, and I'm pleased with this because we thought differently."
"The most significant message is that Witkoff won't leave this issue until the return of the last hostage," Dani Miran, father of Israeli hostage Omri Miran, said. "I asked him that the hostages not return in groups, but to make one deal for all hostages. Even though my son is the oldest there and has two daughters and would be in the first phase to be released, I asked that if needed, delay but bring everyone in one phase, so there will be relief for all families."
