4 hundred eighty-six days in the past, my three-year-old great-niece Abigail watched Hamas terrorists brutally homicide her dad and mom. Then she was kidnapped and disappeared into Gaza for 51 days.
From the second I discovered Abigail had been taken, I vowed to do all the pieces potential to carry her dwelling and struggle for the discharge of all of the 246 individuals stolen on Oct. 7, 2023 — lots of them taken of their pajamas from their beds.
I’ve shared Abigail’s tragic story in media interviews, with world leaders, and in conferences throughout the globe. I’ve proven them her picture, her hanging brown eyes full of innocence. Daily, I appeared into these eyes, making the promise to do all the pieces I may to carry her dwelling.
A couple of weeks after Oct. 7, I used to be in Washington, assembly with six feminine Republican senators. I requested them to be Abigail’s voice since her dad and mom have been gone. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) took Abigail’s picture and confirmed the world what the face of a hostage appeared like — her face, her eyes.
I met with President Biden and members of his administration — CIA Director Invoice Burns, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, particular envoy Brett McGurk and different key leaders on Capitol Hill. I watched as tears welled within the eyes of those highly effective males as I shared Abigail’s story. Of their eyes, I noticed not simply empathy, however the weight of the accountability they carried in that second.
I sat in Doha with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani after Abigail’s launch. As I shared the main points of her kidnapping and freedom, I watched this highly effective chief, a father himself, wipe away tears, moved by the depth of Abigail’s tragedy.
By November 2023, Abigail and 104 different girls and kids had been released, however the deal quickly broke down. This left greater than 100 others nonetheless trapped in Hamas’s grasp. A brand new deal was proposed, however there was no political will from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas to signal it. It wasn’t till President Trump took cost that the push for hostages’ launch gained actual momentum. Even earlier than his inauguration, he made it clear that the hostages should be freed, or there could be “hell to pay.”
On Jan. 20, 2025, at Enviornment One in Washington, D.C., Trump’s particular envoy, Steve Witkoff, introduced the hostage families. He vowed to carry each final one dwelling. Once I stepped onto the stage following Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, I noticed a packed home and the Trump household. I appeared into their eyes and noticed each the ache for our struggling and the unwavering help for our trigger. As I shook Trump’s hand, I merely mentioned, “Thanks. I do know you may carry all of our hostages dwelling immediately.” He met my gaze, nodded in settlement, and I knew at that second that his dedication was actual.
Trump and Witkoff made potential the release of 9 girls, 5 Thai employees, and 4 males — amongst them, 66-year-old American grandfather Keith Siegel. These people had endured practically 500 days of torture and hunger however walked free.
I’ll always remember the terrified eyes of 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, pushed by offended, masked captors towards the Crimson Cross automotive after enduring months of isolation and struggling. Or the hole gaze of Yarden Bibas, tortured by Hamas after shedding his spouse, Shiri, and their two young children. The picture of Shiri’s panicked eyes, clutching Kfir and Ariel earlier than being torn from their dwelling, will hang-out me perpetually.
In Hostage Sq. in Israel, crowds of Israelis gather to have a good time the survivors’ homecomings. There are tears of pleasure, heat hugs and a sense with every free individual that hope for the discharge of all of the hostages is alive. With this, we’re all reminded that the struggle continues. Over 80 hostages are still in captivity. Amongst them are two Individuals: Sagui Dekel-Chen, a younger father of three, and Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old who has been held for 486 days.
Lately, Edan’s grandmother Adva gave me a photograph of him. I’ve checked out that picture numerous occasions, and each time, it breaks me. In his eyes, I see my very own younger son — free to reside his life, whereas Edan remains to be imprisoned, unable to expertise the life my son takes with no consideration.
In July 2024, Biden invited U.S. hostage households to meet with him and Netanyahu. Throughout that assembly, I appeared into each Biden’s glowing blue eyes and Netanyahu’s steely ones, asking about their dedication to our households.
Biden pledged to do all the pieces potential for the fast launch of the hostages. Netanyahu mentioned the deal was shut and that he was able to signal it. However six months handed, and Netanyahu didn’t comply with by way of.
Hostages like American Hersh Goldberg Polin, who have been on the record to be launched, have been executed in captivity. Regardless of the guarantees, the settlement was by no means carried out, and harmless lives that might have been saved have been misplaced. The prime minister informed us the deal was “nearly prepared,” but it surely was by no means signed.
Netanyahu meets with Trump on the White Home as we speak. I hope and pray that Trump appears him within the eye and says, “With my deal, not solely will I guarantee all of the American hostages are launched, however I’ll carry dwelling each single hostage. Steve Witkoff and my workforce will keep within the area and work with the Qataris and Egyptians to make sure that Hamas releases each final hostage.”
And I hope Trump continues, “I’m the Deal Maker. If anybody goes again on the deal, there might be hell to pay.”
Liz Hirsh Naftali is a hostage launch advocate and humanitarian ambassador and creator of “Saving Abigail”
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