The families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have made a formal appeal to the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump, in recognition of his efforts to secure the release of their loved ones, The Times of Israel reports.
In a letter sent this morning, the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons, an organization representing the majority of the families of the kidnapped Israelis, said their appeal comes amid upcoming talks in Egypt on the first phase of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
The proposal calls for all remaining hostages to be released within the first 72 hours of its implementation.
"At this point, President Trump's comprehensive plan to free all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table. For the first time in months, we have hope again that our nightmare will end," the letter says.
"We are convinced that he will not give up until every last hostage returns home, the war ends, and peace and prosperity return to the peoples of the Middle East."
The families express gratitude to Trump for brokering the truce between January and March that led to the release of some of the hostages, and describe him as "a light in our darkest times."
"Over the past year, no leader or organization has done more for peace in the world than President Trump. While others talk about peace, he achieves it," the authors write.
The letter ends with an urgent appeal to the Nobel Committee:
"Award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, because he will not stop until the last hostage is home."
Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times since 2018 by American and foreign politicians. In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially proposed his candidacy, citing Washington's role in the 12-day war between Israel and Iran and the subsequent U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
However, Netanyahu's nomination will not be considered for the Nobel Prize until 2026.
Observers have noted that Trump's increased diplomatic efforts around the Gaza peace plan may also have a political dimension - aimed at strengthening his position ahead of this year's announcement of the laureate on Friday.