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<\/a><\/p>\nUS special envoy Steve Witkoff speaks as U.S. businessman Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump look on during a gathering at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Oct. 11, 2025. (Jack Guez\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Massive posters showing the 48 hostages expected to be returned imminently, 20 alive, under the terms of a ceasefire struck on Friday, surrounded the square. Demonstrators carried signs thanking U.S. President Donald Trump, who pressed for the deal. And hostage families described their excitement at finally being able to reunite with their loved ones \u2014 and their grief at preparing to receive their loved ones\u2019 remains.<\/p>\n
Some of the stars of the rally were three American Jews \u2014 Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump \u2014 who played a role in pushing negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the finish line.<\/p>\n
Witkoff was visibly emotional. \u201cI dreamed of this night. It\u2019s been a long journey. This is the most powerful sight,\u201d Trump\u2019s Middle East envoy told the crowd. \u201cAll of our hearts beating as one.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Witkoff thanked Trump, loud cheers resounded. But when he mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the crowd booed. Multiple times, he had to ask to be allowed to go on before saying, \u201cI was in the trenches with the prime minister, believe me, he was a very important part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many Israelis blame Netanyahu for prolonging the war and the hostages\u2019 captivity, a sentiment that independent reporting has supported and that Trump reportedly expressed privately at times in the course of negotiating an end to the war.<\/p>\n
Kushner, Trump\u2019s son-in-law, followed, praising Witkoff, thanking the Israeli soldiers who fought in Gaza and describing his own reaction to Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Kushner, who has significant business interests and relations across the Middle East, also was the only speaker to mention Gazans who also experienced two years of war after Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cOctober 7, for me, was a shattering day,\u201d he said. \u201cSince then, my heart has not been complete, and it\u2019s been a tremendous burden that I felt to see these hostages come home, to see their families get the closure they deserve and to end this nightmare \u2013 and also to see the suffering end for the people in Gaza, who, for most of them, were experiencing this through no fault of their own, other than being born into a situation that was horrific.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kushner\u2019s wife, Trump\u2019s daughter Ivanka, also addressed the crowd, saying that her father had a message he wanted to pass on. \u201cThe president wanted me to share, as he has with so many of you personally, that he sees you, he hears you, he stands with you always, always,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Trump repeatedly cited the crowd sizes in Tel Aviv as evidence that the Israeli people wanted to make a deal to end the war and bring the hostages home. (Polls easily supported the idea.)<\/p>\n