US President Donald Trump met with 17 Israeli hostages and their families at the White House on 20/11, declaring, "You are no longer hostages. Today, you are heroes." The meeting, held in the State Dining Room, was captured in a video posted by White House official Margo Martin on X.

Some of the attendees had been released just last month, thanks to a ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump, after enduring 738 days of captivity in the Gaza Strip. While Hamas returned all living hostages, the remains of three hostages have not yet been handed over.

"It's an honor to know you all. We love all of you, and so does our country", Trump told the guests.

Trump praised the resilience of Matan Angrest, a former hostage who recounted being beaten for being a member of the Israel Defense Forces. "He went through hell but never gave up. Matan is an inspiration to everyone, regardless of whether you are Jewish or not", the President remarked, presenting them with special US presidential commemorative coins.

Twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah (a parchment scroll inscribed with verses from the Torah, central to Jewish faith, typically affixed to doorframes). This mezuzah was the only one remaining on Gali's door after the Hamas attack on their home on 7/10/2023.

In a letter to Trump, the twins explained, "The mezuzah was respectfully removed from Gali's door at our home in Kfar Aza village, which suffered horrors that day. With deep respect and sincere gratitude, we present you with this small but powerful symbol of protection and faith, found amidst the ruins of tragedy, to honor and thank your efforts to bring the hostages home."

Huyen Le (According to NY Post, Jerusalem Post, Fox News)