From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
With hugs and laughter, hostages freed last week meet with Witkoff and Kushner
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
About half of the released hostages brought home to Israel last week meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and White House adviser Jared Kushner Tuesday morning in Tel Aviv.
The former captives at the meeting include Omri Miran, Gal Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, and Eitan Horn, all of whom were recently released from the hospital.
Each of the released hostages speaks privately with Witkoff, some handing him gifts to show their appreciation for helping bring about their release, others hugging him tight.
“This is my husband,” says Lishay Miran Lavi, introducing him to Witkoff, as the three laugh.
During the gathering, the former hostages urge Witkoff and Kushner to help bring back all 15 bodies of hostages remaining in Gaza, while Witkoff reaffirms the United States’ steadfast dedication to the mission and expresses his confidence in the ability to carry it out, according to the Hostages Forum statement from the meeting.
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