On the eve of a major Nobel Peace Prize announcement, a passionate plea from Israel has captured the world’s attention. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the majority of Israeli families whose loved ones remain captive in Gaza, has called on the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award President Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize. Their request, delivered in a letter on Monday, October 6, 2025, comes as high-stakes ceasefire talks—centered on a plan championed by Trump—unfold in Egypt, offering a glimmer of hope for the release of the remaining 48 hostages and a possible end to the protracted Gaza conflict.
The families’ letter, cited by The New York Post and other outlets, leaves little doubt about their gratitude and urgency. “At this very moment, President Trump’s comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table,” wrote the Forum. The group emphasized, “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.”
It’s a dramatic turn in a saga that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, abducting 251 Israelis—most of them civilians—and killing roughly 1,200 people. The pain and uncertainty have lingered for nearly two years, with families enduring sleepless nights and the constant ache of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. According to The Times of Israel, of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, at least 26 are confirmed dead, 20 are believed alive, and the fate of two others remains gravely uncertain. Among the deceased is an IDF soldier killed in 2014, whose body is still being held by Hamas.
For these families, Trump’s recent efforts have been a beacon of hope. The Forum’s letter credits the US-brokered ceasefire between January and March 2025 with securing the release of dozens of hostages—both living and deceased—allowing many families to finally lay their loved ones to rest with dignity. “From the moment of his inauguration, [Trump] brought us light through our darkest times,” the Forum wrote, expressing a gratitude that is both raw and heartfelt. “Today, we write with hearts full of gratitude and a profound sense of momentous urgency, to urge you to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald J. Trump.”
Trump’s plan, according to the Forum, could lead to freedom for the remaining captives within 72 hours and establish a permanent ceasefire—an outcome that would bring an end to months of suffering and uncertainty. The letter, sent just days before the Nobel Committee’s highly anticipated announcement on Friday, October 10, 2025, underscores the families’ belief that “no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump. While many have spoken eloquently about peace, he has achieved it.”
The political backdrop to this appeal is complex. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in July 2025, citing America’s role in ending the 12-day Israel-Iran war and establishing a ceasefire that brought the conflict to a close. Netanyahu also referenced Trump’s involvement in the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and four Arab nations. However, as The Times of Israel reports, Netanyahu’s nomination applies to the 2026 Peace Prize, since the deadline for 2025 nominations passed on January 31. Legal scholar Anat Alon-Beck, of Case Western Reserve University, did submit a valid nomination for Trump on January 28, 2025.
Trump himself has made no secret of his desire for the Nobel Peace Prize, a goal he has pursued since his first nomination in 2018. His allies and the White House have been quick to tout his record, claiming that he has helped resolve seven major global conflicts in the past year alone. According to statements from the White House, these include disputes between Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Thailand and Cambodia, India and Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo. “In this past year, no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum asserted in their letter.
The timing of the families’ appeal is no accident. With negotiations in Egypt intensifying—based on a 20-point plan announced by Trump just last week—there is a palpable sense of urgency. “For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over,” the Forum wrote. Protesters in Tel Aviv have echoed this sentiment, unfurling banners imploring Trump to “make history” and “seal the deal.” As Getty Images and Yair Palti have documented, these demonstrations have become a focal point for families desperate for resolution.
Yet, not everyone is convinced that Trump’s record is as unblemished as his supporters claim. While the Hostages and Missing Families Forum is unequivocal in its praise, experts quoted by AFP and other outlets have cast doubt on the scale of Trump’s achievements, suggesting that his claim to have resolved “six or seven wars in as many months” may be exaggerated. Nevertheless, even skeptics acknowledge that the current ceasefire talks and the prospect of a comprehensive hostage release represent a rare window of opportunity in a region long plagued by cycles of violence and retribution.
The Nobel Committee, for its part, has not commented on the letter from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. It’s worth noting that the Forum itself is not eligible to formally nominate candidates for the Peace Prize—only members of national governments, university professors, and past laureates hold that privilege. Still, the families’ appeal is a powerful reminder that the stakes are not merely political, but deeply personal.
For the relatives of the 48 hostages still in Gaza, the Nobel Peace Prize is more than a symbol. It’s a plea for action, a recognition of suffering, and a hope that the world will not look away. As the Nobel Committee prepares to reveal this year’s laureate, the voices of these families—echoing across continents—serve as a poignant testament to the human cost of conflict and the enduring longing for peace.
