Kushner Praises Israelis’ “Exceptional” Strength at Tel Aviv Hostage Rally

TEL AVIV — Standing before a packed Hostages Square on Saturday night, Jared Kushner — senior adviser and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump — delivered an emotional address celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

Kushner was met with cheers as he praised the resilience of the Israeli people and the heroism of the Israel Defense Forces, describing the agreement as “a triumph of faith, courage, and moral clarity.”

“Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for your commitment to bring this horrible conflict to an end.” pic.twitter.com/gSGXzLEyc0

— Jared Kushner (@jaredkushner) October 11, 2025

“October 7 for me was a shattering day,” Kushner said, referring to the Hamas attack two years ago that triggered the war. “Seeing those horrific, barbaric acts shocked me to my core. Since then, my heart has not been complete.”

He said his personal mission since that day had been to help secure the return of the hostages and bring closure to their families. “We’re not going to celebrate tonight,” he told the crowd. “We’ll celebrate on Monday — when every last hostage is home.”

Kushner commended Israel’s conduct throughout the war, contrasting it with Hamas’s brutality. “Instead of replicating the barbarism of the enemy,” he said, “you chose to be exceptional.”

He expressed optimism about Israel’s future, predicting that “what will rise from this trauma will be a level of greatness, achievement, and leadership that Israel has never seen.”

Kushner also thanked the IDF soldiers whose “heroism and brilliance” helped make the deal possible, and he credited President Trump’s “unwavering determination” for bringing both sides to agreement.

“Without the boldness of President Trump and the strength of the Israeli people,” he said, “this moment would not have been possible.”

The rally, organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, drew hundreds of thousands of Israelis in what organizers hope will mark the end of the country’s long and painful hostage crisis.