US hostage families see Trump’s May trip to region as chance for loved ones’ return

WASHINGTON — Families of American-Israeli hostages in Gaza say they view US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East as an opportunity to secure the release of their loved ones.

Trump is slated to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to May 16. The White House is not currently planning for the president to make a stop in Israel during his first trip to the Middle East since his re-election.

“The vision that I have is that when he visits Saudi Arabia… he brings back five US citizens on his plane, including my son, and that he calls up and says, ‘Mr. Chen, Mrs. Chen. I got your kid. He’s on his way back home,” said Ruby Chen, whose son Itay was killed during Hamas’s October 7 onslaught and whose body has been held in Gaza since.

Four other Americans are also being held: 21-year-old Edan Alexander — who is believed to still be alive — and the bodies of 21-year-old Omer Neutra, 70-year-old Judih Weinstein Haggai and 73-year-old Gadi Haggai.

The parents of Alexander, Chen and Neutra held a briefing with reporters in Washington while they were in town for meetings with senior administration officials.

The American hostage families were very critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer’s handling of the negotiations, while expressing appreciation for the support they’ve received from both the former and current US administrations.