At the National Republican Congressional Committee’s dinner on Tuesday, two former Hamas hostages publicly thanked Donald Trump for their release. They credited him with securing them and urged him to continue his efforts to free other still-held captives.
Two former hostages who were recently freed from captivity joined the president on stage at the dinner. The freed hostages credited Trump for playing a key role in their liberation.
“What they had to go through was just horrible,” Trump said, introducing the former hostages. “Come on up.”
The President was directly addressed by the first freed hostage.
The former hostage declared, “President Trump, I am here, and I am alive. President Trump, you saved my life. You saved 33 hostages’ lives.”
He highlighted Trump’s priority of their plight by saying: “Because you set the hostage crisis as high a priority- among all the huge issues and things you’re dealing since you became president of the United States – you brought 33 of us back alive. You are responsible for our survival. Thank you.”
“Please continue with your incredible efforts and actions, and your phenomenal accomplishments,” the speaker said. With your help, we will bring all 59 remaining hostages in Gaza home. Thank you.”
The second ex-hostage, identified as Yair only, called his captivity “hell.”
“I’m Yair. I was in Hell for 498 days,” he said. I have spent time in hell with Hamas terrorists. We didn’t see any light.”
Yair recalled that the news of Trump’s election had rekindled hope in the prisoners.
“But we feel — when we heard President Trump get elected — we knew, we knew. That is now someone who makes the things happen. Thank you,” he said.
According to reports, as of Tuesday, there are still 59 hostages in Gaza.