Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first meeting with families of the hostages still held in Gaza since taking office in January, according to a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The meeting took place in Washington, D.C., on Erev Shabbos.
“The real victory in Gaza will be achieved only when all the hostages return home,” Rubio told the families during the discussion, as reported by the forum.
Rubio also reportedly emphasized that the United States is playing a pivotal role in shaping events in the Middle East, pointing to recent Israeli military gains against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as setbacks faced by the Iranian regime.
In attendance were several relatives of those still being held by Hamas and other terror factions, including Moshe Lavie, brother-in-law of Omri Miran; Ilya David, whose brother Evyatar remains captive; Tzur Goldin, brother of fallen IDF officer Hadar Goldin; and Iair Horn, himself a freed hostage, whose brother Eitan remains imprisoned in Gaza.
During the meeting, the families told Rubio that the current moment presents a crucial opportunity to secure a comprehensive agreement for the release of all the remaining hostages. They conveyed hope that the administration of President Donald Trump would help bring such a deal to fruition.
They urged Rubio to push for decisive action, stressing that now is the time for a “bold decision” that would result in the return of all hostages “in one fell swoop.”
President Trump, speaking Friday, expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating that a ceasefire in Gaza could be finalized “within the next week.”
From the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he had just spoken with individuals involved in the ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, though he did not disclose any names or details.
Currently, Gaza-based terror groups are believed to be holding 50 hostages. Among them are 49 of the 251 individuals abducted during the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023. Israeli military sources say that at least 28 of the hostages are confirmed to be dead. Of the remaining captives, 20 are thought to still be alive.
{Matzav.com}