Opinion - Netanyahu has failed the Oct. 7 hostages — Trump must save them
Four hundred eighty-six days ago, my three-year-old great-niece Abigail watched Hamas terrorists brutally murder her parents. Then she was kidnapped and disappeared into Gaza for 51 days.
From the moment I learned Abigail had been taken, I vowed to do everything possible to bring her home and fight for the release of all the 246 people stolen on Oct. 7, 2023 — many of them taken in their pajamas from their beds.
I’ve shared Abigail’s tragic story in media interviews, with world leaders, and in meetings across the globe. I’ve shown them her photo, her striking brown eyes filled with innocence. Every day, I looked into those eyes, making the promise to do everything I could to bring her home.
A few weeks after Oct. 7, I was in Washington, meeting with six female Republican senators. I asked them to be Abigail’s voice since her parents were gone. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) took Abigail’s photo and showed the world what the face of a hostage looked like — her face, her eyes.
I met with President Biden and members of his administration — CIA Director Bill Burns, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, special envoy Brett McGurk and other key leaders on Capitol Hill. I watched as tears welled in the eyes of these powerful men as I shared Abigail’s story. In their eyes, I saw not just empathy, but the weight of the responsibility they carried in that moment.
I sat in Doha with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani after Abigail’s release. As I shared the details of her kidnapping and freedom, I watched this powerful leader, a father himself, wipe away tears, moved by the depth of Abigail’s tragedy.
By November 2023, Abigail and 104 other women and children had been released, but the deal soon broke down. This left more than 100 others still trapped in Hamas’s grasp. A new deal was proposed, but there was no political will from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas to sign it. It wasn’t until President Trump took charge that the push for hostages’ release gained real momentum. Even before his inauguration, he made it clear that the hostages must be freed, or there would be “hell to pay.”
On Jan. 20, 2025, at Arena One in Washington, D.C., Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, introduced the hostage families. He vowed to bring every last one home. When I stepped onto the stage following Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, I saw a packed house and the Trump family. I looked into their eyes and saw both the pain for our suffering and the unwavering support for our cause. As I shook Trump’s hand, I simply said, “Thank you. I know you can bring all of our hostages home right away.” He met my gaze, nodded in agreement, and I knew at that moment that his commitment was real.
Trump and Witkoff made possible the release of nine women, five Thai workers, and four men — among them, 66-year-old American grandfather Keith Siegel. These individuals had endured nearly 500 days of torture and starvation but walked free.
I’ll never forget the terrified eyes of 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, pushed by angry, masked captors toward the Red Cross car after enduring months of isolation and suffering. Or the hollow gaze of Yarden Bibas, tortured by Hamas after losing his wife, Shiri, and their two small children. The image of Shiri’s panicked eyes, clutching Kfir and Ariel before being torn from their home, will haunt me forever.
In Hostage Square in Israel, crowds of Israelis gather to celebrate the survivors’ homecomings. There are tears of joy, warm hugs and a feeling with each free person that hope for the release of all the hostages is alive. With this, we are all reminded that the fight continues. Over 80 hostages are still in captivity. Among them are two Americans: Sagui Dekel-Chen, a young father of three, and Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old who has been held for 486 days.
Recently, Edan’s grandmother Adva gave me a photo of him. I’ve looked at that photo countless times, and every time, it breaks me. In his eyes, I see my own young son — free to live his life, while Edan is still imprisoned, unable to experience the life my son takes for granted.
In July 2024, Biden invited U.S. hostage families to meet with him and Netanyahu. During that meeting, I looked into both Biden’s sparkling blue eyes and Netanyahu’s steely ones, asking about their commitment to our families.
Biden pledged to do everything possible for the rapid release of the hostages. Netanyahu said the deal was close and that he was ready to sign it. But six months passed, and Netanyahu failed to follow through.
Hostages like American Hersh Goldberg Polin, who were on the list to be released, were executed in captivity. Despite the promises, the agreement was never carried out, and innocent lives that could have been saved were lost. The prime minister told us the deal was “almost ready,” but it was never signed.
Netanyahu meets with Trump at the White House today. I hope and pray that Trump looks him in the eye and says, “With my deal, not only will I ensure all the American hostages are released, but I will bring home every single hostage. Steve Witkoff and my team will stay in the region and work with the Qataris and Egyptians to ensure that Hamas releases every last hostage.”
And I hope Trump continues, “I am the Deal Maker. If anyone goes back on the deal, there will be hell to pay.”
Liz Hirsh Naftali is a hostage release advocate and humanitarian ambassador and author of “Saving Abigail”
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