Melania Trump meets with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel

First lady Melania Trump met with freed American-Israeli hostages Keith Siegel and Aviva Siegel at the White House on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of his release.

The couple was captured by Hamas during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel. Ms. Siegel was released after 51 days in captivity, while Mr. Siegel was freed as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Israel after being held for 15 months.

“Aviva was a warrior. She was fighting very hard for Keith. And I know he suffered a lot,” Mrs. Trump said. “I’m happy to see you happy at home with your children, with your grandchildren, with your family and I know you’re giving back your time, your energy to other people.”

Mr. Siegel hailed the first lady for the efforts of the Trump administration to bring home all of the Israeli hostages.

“Thank you for being a caring, compassionate person for supporting and helping Aviva during those difficult days, and you helped her enormously,” he said.

Mrs. Siegel said the efforts of Mrs. Trump to secure her husband’s freedom gave her “so much hope.” The two women had met in January 2025, a few weeks before President Trump was sworn into office.

Footage of that meeting was included in “Melania,” a new documentary about the first lady that opened in theaters last week.

“I knew how important it was for you to go back home and talk to President Trump and share your feelings,” she said.

Mrs. Siegel said when she first met with Mrs. Trump, she was talking “not for myself but for the whole world.”

Under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire brokered by Mr.Trump, Hamas returned all of the Israeli hostages in Gaza starting in October 2025. 

The body of the last remaining deceased hostage was returned to Israel last month, closing the first phase of the ceasefire.

The Israeli hostage crisis lasted 843 days. Hamas kidnapped 251 people during its surprise attack; 84 were returned dead. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel agreed to release some Palestinian prisoners.