Trump lands in Israel as first 7 hostages returned

First seven living hostages transferred from Hamas to IDF as Trump lands in Israel and is greeted by Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and Ambassador Huckabee.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump landed in Israel Monday morning, kicking off his lightning visit to the Middle East.

Air Force One touched down shortly after the planned arrival of 9:20 a.m., after the first group of living hostages were returned to Israel.

The first seven hostages included Alon Ohel, Matan Angrest, Gali Berman,
Ziv Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Eitan Mor, and Omri Miran.

After being transferred to the IDF and Shin Bet security agency, the seven hostages were transferred to a forward base near Kibbutz Re’im and underwent preliminary medical assessments before being reunited with their families.

Upon his arrival, Trump was greeted on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport by his Israeli counterpart, President Isaac Herzog; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee; Trump’s daughter and son-in-law Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner; White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter.

“The Israeli people welcome you with so much love and so much gratitude,” President Herzog told Trump.

“Thank you for all you have done to bring our hostages home. Thank you for your commitment to building a better future of peace in our region. God bless Israel! God bless America!”

Less than an hour after President Trump’s arrival, the International Committee of the Red Cross received a second group of Israeli hostages from Hamas forces in southern Gaza, and began transferring them to IDF forces near the Israeli border.

According to a report by the Qatar-based Al Araby Television Network, all of the remaining 13 hostages were released in the second group Monday morning.

Two other hostages, Bipin Joshi and Tamir Nimrodi, were not included in Hamas’ list Monday of living hostages.

After meeting with Trump on the tarmac, Netanyahu departed with Trump for the Knesset, where the two will meet with families of the hostages.

Trump, Netanyahu, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid will then each address the Knesset plenum, before President Trump returns to Ben Gurion International Airport.

From there, the president is slated to fly to Sharm el-Sheikh in the southern Sinai Peninsula, where he will attend a signing ceremony for the Gaza peace deal, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

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