Relatives of the seven American-Israeli hostages still held in Gaza will attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, amid high hopes that tough talk from the incoming leader will help push a long-sought deal for their freedom past the finish line.
The families announced the plans in a joint statement Thursday. While in Washington, they will also meet with officials from the incoming administration along with members of Congress and their staff, the families said.
“The families are urging leaders to prioritize the safe return of their loved ones and to take decisive action to bring an end to their prolonged captivity,” they said.
Attending the inauguration will be the parents of hostage Edan Alexander, the parents and brother of slain hostage Omer Neutra, the parents of slain hostage Itay Chen, the father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen and the daughter of slain hostages Gad Haggai and Judi Weinstein.
Former hostage Aviva Siegel, whose husband Keith Seigel remains in Gaza, will also attend the ceremony along with their daughter and Keith’s sister.
The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed by his captors along with five others while being held by the Hamas terror group in late August, will travel to the inauguration as well.
Trump this week reiterated his warning that “all hell will break loose” in the Middle East if the hostages are not released by his January 20 inauguration.
The incoming president has repeatedly used the phrase regarding the release of the hostages as negotiations continue for a hostage release and ceasefire........