Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, September 20, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Friday, September 20, 2024
Trump invites rescued hostage, father of soldier killed during Oct. 7 fighting, on stage
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) speaks alongside Andrey Kozlov (R), a Hamas hostage who was rescued from Gaza by Israeli forces, at the Israeli American Council national summit in Washington, September 19, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
After discussing US presidential polling figures, Trump turns to “the sacred bond between the United States and Israel, and it’s a bond that’s in serious trouble.”
“Tonight we honor the memory of all those who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks and we pray to God that Israel will redeem those deaths with ultimate victory over those who wish to destroy it,” he says.
Trump then briefly invites Andrey Kozlov onto the stage, along with retired IDF general Didi Simchi, whose son was killed battling Hamas terrorists on October 7.
