The former host says,

An American Israeli man, who was held captive by Hamas, told the BBC that US President Donald Trump has the power to ensure the release of other hostages and end the war in Gaza.

Keith Seagel, 66, was abducted by Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the attacks led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023. He was released this February after 484 days in capture under the termination of fire, which Trump helped a broker just before taking office.

He was taken with his wife, Aviv, who was detained for 51 days before being released during a more reconciliation.

G -N -Seagle spoke before a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump in the White House on Monday night.

In an interview with Tel Aviv, he thanked Trump for securing his own release and stated that the president could now do the same for the other 50 hostages, up to 20 of whom were still thought to be alive.

“I believe he has a lot of power, power and ability to put pressure on those who need to be pressed on both sides to receive the agreement, sign the deal and return all hostages and return it to the war,” he said.

Trump said he hoped a new deal to end the fire and hostages to be agreed this week, but there seems to be still significant gaps between Israel and Hamas.

The two sides resumed the indirect conversations in Qatar on Sunday night, but they ended in three hours without a breakthrough, according to a Palestinian employee.

Before flying to Washington, Netanyahu said he believed his encounter with Trump could “determine to definitely progress in this result that we all hope for.”

The plan is thought to include the gradual release of 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Hamas said on Friday that he had given a “positive answer”. But a Palestinian employee said he had requested several changes, including a US guarantee that hostilities would not resume if negotiations to end the war fail – an idea that Netanyahu had rejected before.

G -N -Seagle described in vivid details how Hamas members beat and mocked him and said he was still persecuted by the torture of a female captive he witnessed.

He said Hamas Operations Directors moved him down the streets of Gaza, sometimes in daylight, in 33 different places during his captive.

Asked if he would support a deal that posted the hostages, but saw that Hamas remained in power in Gaza, he replied: “This is the highest priority and urgency to return all 50 hostages as soon as possible.”

But he continued, “We can’t let Hamas continue to threaten people and kill and kill people, and I think Hamas is responsible for death on both sides.”

Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza says over 57,000 people were killed there since Israel began military operations in response to the attacks on October 7, during which about 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 251 others took hostages.

I asked G -n -Sigel as he continued to campaign to release other hostages, whether his thoughts also focused on the suffering of Gazan’s population.

“I believe that the peace and security of all people and freedom … are the fundamental human rights that every person deserves,” he said.

“I think this is the responsibility of the whole leadership to ensure that this is happening. Any innocent person who is hurt or killed or killed is something I hope or dream does not happen.”