‘Miracles can happen, the hostages are coming home,’ Witkoff tells Tel Aviv rally; crowd cheers for him and Trump, boos Netanyahu’s name

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff speaks to an adoring crowd at Hostages Square, thanking US President Donald Trump, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Arab and Muslim leaders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hostage families and the families themselves for their role in securing the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal.

As he prepares to speak, the crowd chants “Thank you, Witkoff.” It boos when he mentions Netanyahu, before chanting Trump’s name.

“I dreamed of this night for a long time. This is the most powerful sight,” he begins, estimating that there are more than 100,000 people in the crowd.

“Hearts beating as one, gathered here in Tel Aviv for peace, for unity and for hope in this sacred place we call Hostages Square,” says Witkoff. “I only wish the president was here.”

“We stand here tonight, Jews, Christians, Muslims… United with one shared goal,” he says. “Peace.”

“Tonight we celebrate something extraordinary, a moment that many thought was impossible. Yet here we stand, living proof that when courage meets conviction, miracles can happen. A peace born not out of politics, but out of courage, the courage of those who refuse to give up hope.”

He says he wants “to honor the people of Israel. Your strength, your resilience, your unwavering spirit through unimaginable pain and loss. You have carried the weight of hope on your shoulders for the entire world. You’ve prayed, you’ve persevered, and you’ve shown the world that peace is not weakness. It is the highest form of strength. Through heartbreak and fear, you never let go of the faith. Your courage and endurance inspired the world, and it was your belief, joined with the bold leadership of my friend and President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, that made this piece possible.”

He praises Jared Kushner, standing behind him, saying, “This moment was made possible through the tireless dedication of leaders who would not rest until the world saw what could be achieved. One of them is standing right here with me, Jared Kushner,” he says to cheers.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…,” he continues before being interrupted by a loud chorus of boos. “Okay, let me just finish my thought,” he says as the boos continue. “I was in the trenches with the prime minister. Believe me, he was a very important part here. The prime minister and his staff, Ron Dermer, have both sacrificed so much for this country and devoted their lives to the service of Israel. Their dedication to the history and destiny of this nation stands out tonight. They’ve given everything, their time, their energy, and their hearts, to building a safer, stronger future for the Jewish people. Their commitment to this country has never wavered.”

He expresses deep gratitude to President Donald J. Trump, “a man who is a humanitarian through and through, with an indomitable spirit, who once again proved that bold leadership and moral clarity can reshape history and change the world.”

“In the worst of times, he refused to accept the idea that peace in the Middle East was out of reach. He brought together nations once divided by generations of conflict and showed us that shared peace is stronger than shared pain… He showed the world that strength and peace go hand in hand. They are not opposites, they are partners.”

Witkoff continues by paying tributes to Arab and Muslim leaders, “all of whom played a critical and integral role” in the deal, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and the president and emir of Qatar.” The audience cheers.

“Each of those Arab friends and partners of ours, each of them come from nations that chose reconciliation over resentment. Thank you for showing that the future of this region can be built not on the ashes of old hatred, but on the promise of shared hope,” he says.

He also pays tribute to the hostages’ families, who “carried the moral weight of this nation” and whose “courage touched me in ways I have never been touched before in my life.”

“Your courage has moved this world. I say to the families, You have prayed through endless nights and never let the world forget who your loved ones are. And in this way, you honor and you bless them.

To the hostages themselves, our brothers and sisters,” he says, “you are coming home.”

“Your endurance, your endurance, your faith, your will to live have been symbols of the human spirit that cannot ever be broken. Now, as you return to the embrace of your families and your nation, know that all of Israel and the entire world stands ready to welcome you home with open arms and endless love.”

He references those “who have lost children who are not coming home, members of a very terrible club that I’m a member of myself. We remember the heroes and the innocent souls who are no longer with us, those who were taken from us on that terrible, tragic day, October 7, and those who have given their lives since then in defense of freedom and their nation, in defense of this country, Israel, in defense of peace. Their memory is a blessing. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

“This peace is their legacy,” he says. “It is a promise that their lives will not be remembered only in sorrow, but in the hope of a future without fear.

“May God bless the hostages and their families as they return home,” Witkoff concludes. “May God bless the state of Israel. May God bless the United States of America. And may God bless Donald J. Trump, the greatest president the world has ever seen.”