Top Trump officials meet hostage families at White House

A delegation of hostage families met at the White House today with US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

The Israeli delegation included former hostage Tal Shoham, relatives of hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal, the parents of hostage Evyatar David and the parents of slain hostage Omer Neutra.

“Wiles, Leavitt, and Witkoff expressed deep solidarity with the families and reaffirmed the Trump administration’s full commitment to securing the release of all 58 hostages. They emphasized that the administration will continue working relentlessly until every hostage is brought home,” a statement from the Hostage Family Forum says.

“The Trump officials also expressed deep shock over the recent terror attack in Colorado, which took place during a march in support of the hostages. They strongly condemned the violence, stressed that there is no place for such acts on American soil, extending their full support to the victims and all those affected,” the statement continues.

“We are fully committed to securing the release of all the hostages and believe their return is essential—not only on humanitarian and moral grounds, but also as a critical step toward regional stability,” says a statement from Leavitt. “The [March] meeting between the president and the captivity survivors had a profound impact on him and reinforced his determination to bring every hostage home.”

The Tuesday meeting came amid an ongoing impasse in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Hamas said Monday that it is prepared to immediately enter indirect talks in order to bridge remaining gaps, in an apparent softening of its position after the updated proposal it submitted to the US on Sunday was blasted by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, who said it took the sides backward.

The main issue of contention remains whether the temporary truce under discussion leaves enough of a window for Israel to resume fighting after it expires or if the proposal’s assurances from the Trump administration are enough to convince Hamas that the ceasefire will hold permanently.