Hostage families urge Nobel Committee to give Trump peace prize: ‘He brought us light in our darkest times’

Families of hostages held in Gaza urge the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award United States President Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize this month over his efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the majority of hostages’ relatives in Israel, says in a statement that they sent a letter this morning to the committee — set to announce this year’s laureate on Friday — against the backdrop of imminent negotiations in Egypt over the implementation of the first stage of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. Under that plan, all 48 remaining hostages would be freed within the first 72 hours.

“At this very moment, President Trump’s comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table. For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over. We are confident that he will not rest until the last hostage is brought home, the war has ended, and peace and prosperity are restored to the people of the Middle East,” the families write.

“From the moment of his inauguration, [Trump] brought us light through our darkest times,” they continue, expressing gratitude for the hostages returned through the US-brokered ceasefire between January and March.

“In this past year, no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump. While many have spoken eloquently about peace, he has achieved it,” they add.

“We strongly urge you to award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize because he has vowed he will not rest and will not stop until every last hostage is back home,” the letter concludes.

Since 2018, Trump has been nominated for the prestigious prize — which he has repeatedly asserted that he deserves — by several individuals in the United States and politicians abroad. In July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated the American leader for the award, citing the US’s role in the 12-day Israel-Iran war and the ceasefire that ended it.

However, Netanyahu’s nomination would only be valid for the 2026 selection. Some observers have suggested that Trump is moving swiftly to begin implementing his Gaza ceasefire proposal in part to strengthen his chances ahead of this year’s award.