No. 1: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump: Remembering who brought the hostages home

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are highlighted for their instrumental, yet often forgotten, role in negotiating the release of Israeli hostages in late 2025 and early 2026. Despite initial public acclaim at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where Kushner was cheered and Prime Minister Netanyahu booed, their efforts have since faced criticism from some Israeli media and politicians. Kushner, who initially resisted returning to Middle East diplomacy, was motivated by the October 7, 2023, attacks. He and special envoy Steve Witkoff secured the release of 20 living hostages and the return of 28 bodies, an outcome many in Jerusalem deemed impossible. Ivanka Trump, a convert to Judaism, also played a supportive role, addressing families at Hostage Square. However, as gratitude waned, figures like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attacked their perceived naivety, and some Israeli commentators accused them of being influenced by Qatar or prioritizing economic interests over Israel's existential concerns. Sources indicate Netanyahu privately blames Kushner and Witkoff for influencing the US President towards ending the war.