Families of released Israeli hostages thank President Trump
Two of the family members of the four female Israeli soldiers released on Saturday have thanked President Trump for his role in securing their loved ones' release.
Family members of each of the freed hostages, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, made statements on Sunday, 26 January, after their reunion at Beilinson Hospital.
Karina Ariev's sister, Sasha, thanked Mr Trump for his 'unwavering support' adding that her hope rested with him for the return of all remaining Israeli hostages.
Hamas handed over the four Israeli soldiers early on Saturday morning with 200 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons on the same day as the fragile ceasefire continues in Gaza.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
14 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Bid to dissolve Israeli parliament defeated in vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government survived an attempt to dissolve parliament early on Thursday. Most of Mr Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox coalition partners joined him in voting against a Bill that would have forced them to register for military service while the country is at war. The vote was the most serious challenge to the government since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the biggest security failure in Israel's history and the trigger for the ongoing war in Gaza. The Bill's failure means no other Bill to dissolve Knesset can be submitted for at least six months, shoring up Mr Netanyahu's embattled coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service. The issue has long divided the Jewish Israeli public, especially during the 20-month war in the Gaza Strip. Israel's opposition had hoped the public anger over the exemptions would help topple the government. But just two of the 18 ultra-Orthodox members of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, supported the bill to dissolve. Most Haredi MKs agreed to vote against the bill after foreign affairs and defence committee chairman Yuli Edelstein said he and the ultra-Orthodox parties had reached an understanding on the basis of a new draft law, which they will continue discussing over the coming week. Military service is mandatory for most Jews in Israel but the politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions if they are studying full-time in religious seminaries. The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim, or 'God-fearing' in Hebrew, say that integrating into the army threatens their traditional way of life. Each year, roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the conscription age of 18, but less than 10% enlist, according to parliament's state control committee, which held a hearing examining the issue. Israel is engaged in the longest active war in the country's history, which has stretched its military to the breaking point.
North Wales Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Bid to dissolve Israeli parliament defeated in vote
Most of Mr Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox coalition partners joined him in voting against a Bill that would have forced them to register for military service while the country is at war. The vote was the most serious challenge to the government since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the biggest security failure in Israel's history and the trigger for the ongoing war in Gaza. The Bill's failure means no other Bill to dissolve Knesset can be submitted for at least six months, shoring up Mr Netanyahu's embattled coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service. The issue has long divided the Jewish Israeli public, especially during the 20-month war in the Gaza Strip. Israel's opposition had hoped the public anger over the exemptions would help topple the government. But just two of the 18 ultra-Orthodox members of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, supported the bill to dissolve. Most Haredi MKs agreed to vote against the bill after foreign affairs and defence committee chairman Yuli Edelstein said he and the ultra-Orthodox parties had reached an understanding on the basis of a new draft law, which they will continue discussing over the coming week. Military service is mandatory for most Jews in Israel but the politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions if they are studying full-time in religious seminaries. The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim, or 'God-fearing' in Hebrew, say that integrating into the army threatens their traditional way of life. Each year, roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the conscription age of 18, but less than 10% enlist, according to parliament's state control committee, which held a hearing examining the issue. Israel is engaged in the longest active war in the country's history, which has stretched its military to the breaking point. The Haredim's widespread refusal to serve, and threats to topple the government during war-time, have enraged many Israelis, especially those who have served multiple rounds of reserve duty.
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sen. Rand Paul calls Trump admin ‘incredibly petty' as he's uninvited from White House picnic
Sen. Rand Paul blasted President Donald Trump and his administration as 'incredibly petty' after his family's invitation to a White House picnic for members of Congress was abruptly rescinded. 'I think I'm the first senator in the history of the United States to be uninvited to the White House picnic,' the Kentucky Republican told reporters on Wednesday. 'I just find this incredibly petty. I mean – I have been, I think, nothing but polite to the president.' Trump himself may not see it that way, however, having been angered by Paul's recent opposition to his 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' Paul, a fiscal hawk, briefly formed an alliance with Elon Musk earlier this month when he labelled the president's signature tax and spending legislation 'a huge mistake,' joining the tech billionaire in expressing anxiety about the bill adding as much as $5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. That led the president to lash out at the senator in a brace of posts on Truth Social, in the first of which he complained: 'Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting 'NO' on everything, he thinks it's good politics, but it's not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!' In the second, he griped: 'Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can't stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!' Paul also risked Trump's wrath by criticizing the upcoming military parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, marking the president's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. The senator told reporters he has 'never been a big fan of goose-stepping soldiers in big tanks and missiles rolling down the street,' and compared the event to the sort of triumphalist show of might more commonly associated with the Soviet Union and North Korea. Paul has further provoked the administration by accusing it of 'running sort of a paid influencer campaign against me for two weeks on Twitter.' 'We know they're being paid because... someone has told us that the White House called them from the White House, and offered them money to attack me online,' he said. As if that were not enough, Paul has also attacked Trump's senior adviser Stephen Miller for 'basically going around casually talking about getting rid of habeas corpus.' The picnic blacklisting is nevertheless embarrassing for the senator, who learned of his exclusion when he inquired about picking up his tickets, according to Politico. Paul said he did not know whether Trump himself or a White House staffer had made the decision to cross him off the guest list, but said the 'level of immaturity is beyond words.'
