Families of Israelis still held hostage in Gaza have sent an urgent appeal to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, calling for US President Donald Trump to be awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in brokering what they described as a “historic breakthrough” to end the two-year war with Hamas.
“After almost two years of suffering, we have reached a critical turning point,” the families wrote in a letter released by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum Headquarters. “President Trump’s determination to bring peace made possible what many said was impossible. We strongly urge you to award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize because he has vowed he will not rest and will not stop until every last hostage is back home.”
The letter praised Trump’s relentless engagement with regional leaders and his insistence on a hostage-first framework that led to Hamas’s conditional acceptance of his ceasefire and disarmament plan.
“In this past year, no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump,” the families said. “While many have spoken eloquently about peace, he has achieved it. While others have offered empty promises, he has delivered tangible results that have saved countless lives.”
The emotional appeal comes as an Israeli negotiating team departed Monday for Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for indirect talks with Hamas to finalize the technical details of the hostage release. Egyptian, Qatari and US officials are mediating the discussions.
According to Israeli officials, the talks in Egypt follow Hamas’s initial acceptance of Trump’s 21-point plan, which includes the full release of all hostages in exchange for phased Israeli withdrawals from most of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas under international supervision.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that the plan “achieves our war aims” and ensures that Israel maintains security control over key parts of the Strip.
For families who have endured 24 months of uncertainty, the prospect of reunification is both overwhelming and bittersweet. Many of them view Trump’s involvement as the decisive factor that shifted global and regional pressure toward Hamas.
“This is the first real moment of hope we’ve had since October 7,” said one family representative. “Whatever anyone thinks about President Trump politically, it’s clear that his leadership forced the world to act.”
The Nobel Committee typically announces its laureates in early October. If awarded, Trump would be the second American president—after Jimmy Carter—to receive the Peace Prize for efforts tied to Middle East peace diplomacy.
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