After return of loved ones, families of freed hostages thank people of Israel, IDF & President Trump

Families of the 20 hostages who returned from Hamas captivity on Simchat Torah, have begun releasing statements on the status of their returned loves ones, after they were held captive for two years. 

As was already clear from some of the Hamas propaganda videos, the hostages were kept in poor conditions and most were given only the minimal amount of food to keep them alive during that time. Some of the statements by the families reflect the difficult state in which the hostages returned. 

At the same time, many of the families thanked the people of Israel, the IDF, and especially U.S. President Donald Trump for helping to secure the release of the hostages. Notably, some of the families omitted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from their thanks, reflecting the divided opinions among Israelis on Netanyahu’s performance during the war. 

Some of the families also called for a state commission of inquiry to be established, among them Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of freed hostage Omri Miran.

“I want to thank the people of Israel, for never giving up on us and fighting like you were each a member of our family,” Miran-Lavi posted to 𝕏. 

“I also want to thank our incredible family, and especially the brave men and women of the IDF,” she continued. “I am overjoyed at the thought of thousands of soldiers returning home, the precious lives preserved, and the reservist families who, alongside us, can begin their journey of recovery.” 

Miran-Lavi then thanked President Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and even the Hungarian government for their help in getting the hostages released. (Omri Miran also has Hungarian citizenship.) However, she did not thank Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

In a post to 𝕏 in Hebrew, Miran-Lavi also mentioned the families of the deceased hostages, writing,  “The least we as a country can do for them is to provide them with answers.” 

“Yesterday, our national rehabilitation journey began, as a people. A journey that cannot end until the last hostage returns and until a state commission of inquiry is established,” she wrote. “And we will be part of this struggle. Until the last hostage. Until the establishment of a commission of inquiry.” 

Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest, said her son told her of the intense fighting before his capture, and of the bravery of his fallen comrades. 

“One of the first things Matan told me when I saw him was, ‘Mom, you should know – we were alone, but we fought and killed many terrorists,’” Anat recounted.

“Through tears, he spoke about how proud he is of his brave comrades who were killed in the difficult battles: Tomer Leibovitz, Daniel Peretz, and Itay Chen. Matan needs a place to honor their memory. These heroes deserve to be buried in the country they fought for.” 

Angrest also expressed frustration at the government while calling for the country to be steadfast until all the remains of the deceased hostages are returned. 

“Unfortunately, my family and I learned firsthand throughout this journey what it feels like to be left behind, and we cannot allow this to happen to any other family,” Anat Angrest said. “We will not rest until everyone returns; until the last hostage comes home.” 

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday night, Anat blasted the political opposition that prevented earlier hostage-ceasefire deals. 

“As I look at my son, it is hard for me to think that there were those who were ready to give up on him,” Anat said. “It is hard for me to think that the deal that returned my Matan was signed despite some leaders and not thanks to them, that it was possible to shorten this terrible time for my Matan and to save 49 more hostages for whom it is too late.” 

The family of Avinatan Or explained that he tried to escape his captivity at one point, which led to harsher conditions, including being locked in a cage as punishment. 

“He was handcuffed to bars. It was a barred place that is 1.8 meters high (5 feet 9 inches), and the length is the length of the mattress plus a little, the width is the width of the mattress plus a little. Call it a cage,” Avinatan’s father, Yaron, explained to Kan News. 

Or’s family also explained that he was held in isolation during the entire two years, with only Hamas terrorists around him. He had no knowledge of what was happening in Israel, and did not meet any other hostages. 

Avinatan’s partner, fellow former hostage Noa Argamani, posted a message to 𝕏 shortly after their reunion, after being separated on Oct. 7, in a scene which was recorded and shared widely online. 

In her post, Argamani thanked IDF soldiers, U.S. President Trump, along with other U.S. officials, and the activists who rallied for the hostages over the past two years. 

Two years. Two years passed since the last moment I saw Avinatan, the love of my life. Two years since the moment terrorists kidnapped us, put me on a motorcycle, and tore me away from Avinatan before the eyes of the entire world.

From that moment, our journey in captivity was… pic.twitter.com/u6uiyHZEeR

— Noa Argamani (@ArgamaniNoa) October 14, 2025

“Each of us faced death countless times, and yet, after two years apart, we are finally taking our first steps together again in the State of Israel,” Argamani wrote. 

Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, said his son is adjusting to the return to Israel after two years in captivity. 

“He's acclimating, he's getting back to himself, from a family point of view we've achieved the goal,” Yehuda said. “But we fought for it for two long years.” 

The elder Cohen also harshly criticized the country’s leadership, claiming that his son’s tank, from which he was abducted on Oct. 7, had mechanical problems that were known to the IDF but were not fixed. 

“Nimrod's team didn't fight because of the tank's malfunctions; the tank didn't function,” he explained. “The army saved money on the tank.” 

Rivka Bohbot, wife of Elkana Bohbot, said her husband was poorly treated during captivity, and was only given more food in the days before his release. 

"Just before his release, he was given large amounts of food so that he would look somewhat better for the world to see. Because of this, Elkana is currently suffering from severe stomach pain, but I am confident that my heroic husband will be able to gradually return to good health thanks to the medical care he's receiving and his own inner strength,” she explained. 

Rivka Bohbot thanked the people of Israel in her statements to the press, saying, “Many good people helped us.”

She also said that Elkana saw videos and pictures from the hostage rallies while in captivity.

“He saw and he felt he wasn’t forgotten. You saved him, but also me and Re’em," she said, referring to the couple's 5-year-old son.