Two years after the darkest day in Israel’s modern history, the families of those kidnapped by Hamas have issued an extraordinary appeal to the Norwegian Nobel Committee: award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to the U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
The letter, dated October 6, 2025, comes on the eve of the second anniversary of the brutal October 7, 2023 massacre, when Hamas terrorists stormed Israeli communities, killing more than 1,200 people in one day and abducting over 200 men, women, and children into Gaza. The attack left Israel and the world reeling, and for families of the kidnapped, life since has been defined by anguish, uncertainty, and relentless campaigning for their loved ones’ release.
In their message, the families describe Trump as the single most effective force behind the safe return of dozens of hostages. “Through his unwavering commitment and extraordinary leadership, 39 of our beloved family members have returned home,” the families wrote, adding that his efforts also gave others “the dignity of burial and closure—a mercy we feared we might never receive.”
The families stress that Trump’s involvement has not been symbolic but decisive. Since leaving office, he has continued to push for hostage deals, leveraging his influence with Middle Eastern governments and mediating where formal diplomatic channels stalled. They point to his “comprehensive plan” now under negotiation, which they believe could secure the release of all remaining hostages and bring an end to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The appeal situates Trump’s work in a wider context, crediting him with mediating multiple international conflicts over the past year. “Where others saw intractable violence, President Trump saw opportunity for peace. Where diplomats spoke of impossibility, he delivered results,” the families said.
Their letter also invokes the Nobel Peace Prize’s original mission, as outlined by Alfred Nobel: to honor those who advance fraternity among nations and reduce armed conflict. The families insist Trump embodies this vision, arguing that unlike others who merely spoke of peace, he has delivered it in concrete, life-saving terms.
For the families, bestowing the Nobel Prize on Trump would send a powerful message—not only to them, but to the world—that determined leadership and bold action in service of peace are what truly matter. “He will not rest until the last hostage is home, the war is ended, and peace and prosperity are restored,” they concluded.
The Nobel Committee has yet to comment on the appeal, but the families’ intervention marks one of the most controversial and high-profile pushes in recent memory, underscoring how deeply the shadow of October 7 still shapes global politics—and how central Trump has become in efforts to end the crisis.
