According to a report by The Times of Israel on November 14, 2025, twenty Israeli civilians who were freed from Hamas captivity during the Gaza truce in October will be welcomed by President Donald Trump at the White House on November 20, 2025, as a demonstration of U.S. support for Israel’s resilience.
In the midst of American diplomacy, this event allows survivors to tell their journeys towards recovery, highlighting the administration’s vital role in creating a temporary halt to hostilities.
After the horrific attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which captured about 250 people from towns in southern Israel, the victims in question faced unfathomable agony for more than two years.
A breakthrough agreement was reached in the midst of intensive negotiations in mid-October 2025, with Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at the helm.
Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving lengthy terms for security-related offences, after Hamas turned over the last 20 living captives on October 13.
As part of a larger deal arranged by the United States, this swap also allowed the transfer of four hostages’ bodies, who were escorted into freedom while wearing Israeli flags.
Hosting the gathering is a sign of Trump’s hands-on approach to resolving the conflict in the Middle East.
Prior to the resurgence of hostilities, his group had negotiated a tentative agreement in January, releasing 35 alive captives and eight bodies.
At a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey inked a new pact, signalling a hopeful but precarious pause.
Trump called it a “historic dawn,” attributing it to the constant pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas middlemen.
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