GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 423

Trump Is Mad

American Hostage Is Killed

After news that an American-Israeli hostage who was thought to be still alive was actually killed on October 7th, President-elect Donald Trump was not pleased as seen in an report from The Jerusalem Post:

President-elect Donald Trump took to his platform Truth Social on Monday afternoon following the IDF's confirmation that Hamas killed American-Israeli Omer Neutra on October 7 and has held his body hostage since. 

He was critical of all the talk of getting the hostages released because it was just that, talk:

Trump did not mention Neutra by name but wrote that "everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East - But it’s all talk and no action!"

He then stated unequivocally that once he returns to the Oval Office if the hostages are still not released he will definitely take action:

Trump continued, saying, "Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity."

Trump then added these words that strong words:

Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the "long and storied History of the United States of America," Trump wrote. 

"RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!" he said. 

After Biden lost the election the administration is giving Trump updates on any ongoing deals:

In the last two weeks, Biden administration officials confirmed they've begun briefing the incoming Trump team on details of the Gaza hostage talks.

Biden said he himself briefed Trump on the negotiations during their meeting at the White House on November 13.

Trump talked with the father of another American-Israeli who was seen in a video pleading for release:

A representative with the Trump team spoke on Saturday with Adi Alexander, father of American-Israeli hostage Edan, shortly after Hamas released a video revealing Edan is alive.

His team is doing what he can now, he told the father:

Trump’s team indicated that they were “shoulder-to-shoulder with the current administration to resolve the issue” and were working 24/7, Adi told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

Parents Have High Hopes

The article went on to tell us that the deceased hostage parents also hope that Trump will broker a deal even before he takes office:

The Post also spoke with Omer's parents on Sunday, and his mother Orna said Trump has a track record from his first administration of getting things done in the Middle East in a way that many other presidents weren’t capable of.

They believe that Trump has contacts and a history of getting deals done:

“He’s a deal maker. He’s done it before,” Ronen Neutra said, echoing his wife.

Trump has relationships and has people who have relationships in the region, Orna added.

“We’re just hoping that he uses his leverage. You know, each side has their own leverages,” she continued. “We’re hoping that the combined effort will finally make something move.”

They believe Trump sees the pressing need for a deal:

Ronen said he believes the incoming Trump administration understands the sense of urgency and that Trump is receiving the families’ message that a deal cannot wait for inauguration day.

“We sure hope that that’s what’s happening behind the scenes,” he said.

A leader for one hostage family group is talking with the incoming staff as well:

A leader of the New York Hostage Families Forum told the Post that the families have spoken with some of Trump's incoming appointed officials as well as members of their staff.

Organizers with the Families Forum are efforting as many meetings as possible between the hostage families and people within Trump's orbit.

The group is also hopeful after talking with Trump’s team:

"The incoming team are saying very hopeful things, they're saying that Trump wants a hostage deal and a ceasefire before the inauguration," the leader told the Post on Sunday, echoing Trump's post on Truth Social.

Previously Trump felt very few hostages were still alive, but he has since been told more are still alive:

The Families Forum leader also said she knows that Trump knows the initial numbers he was given regarding how many hostages are presumed alive were not correct.

Trump knows there's at least 60 hostages alive, according to the leader.

They see the incoming president as being able to get a deal:

"So we're hopeful," she said. "We're very hopeful."

"Trump is the most important person," she continued. "He's the one that can get them out. He can put the can put the needed pressure on [Netanyahu] to get a deal."

Others were glad to see Trump’s strong message:

The Hostage Families Forum praised Trump for his decisive message.

“The Hostage Families Forum extends its gratitude to President-elect Trump for his clear and uncompromising message," the organization said in a statement. "It is now evident to all: the time has come. We must bring them home NOW.

They want the current and future administrations to act decisively, and soon:

"We call on both the current and incoming US administrations to act without delay and exhaust every opportunity to bring all the hostages home—those alive for rehabilitation, and those murdered for proper burial."