The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they happen.

The White House puts out a statement on US President Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with a group of former Hamas hostages.

“Today, President Trump took time to meet with eight of the released hostages from Gaza. The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories. The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home,” says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.

The former hostages who participated in the meeting were Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani.

The Jewish people are at an important moment in their history, and must be prepared to fight for their future, President Isaac Herzog tells Jewish leaders gathered at the Voice of the People summit.

“I tell everybody, fight back. Don’t be afraid. Raise your voice. Be proud of yourself,” he says.

Voice of the People is an initiative spearheaded by Herzog, bringing together 150 members chosen to work on tackling pressing communal challenges. Members convened in person for the first time this week in Haifa.

“Our story is not only about bloodshed and tears,” Herzog says. “The Jewish story is something huge, unique, and unbelievable, and its impact reverberates throughout the globe.”

Herzog says that he’s visited more than 1,000 bereaved families since the war began, from all sectors of Israeli society.

“Each family has an incredible story,” he says. “I know the names and families, and the intertwining of the Jewish story all comes back.”

Herzog also comments on Israeli actress Gal Gadot’s speech earlier this week at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) conference in New York, where she spoke of her Jewish pride and stated, “My name is Gal, and I’m Jewish.”

The president says he and his wife wrote to Gadot following the speech.

“We truly respect her, and I think it was a very important speech,” particularly at a time when college students are “afraid to tell their fraternity friends that they’re affiliated with Israel or that they’re even Jewish,” he says.

US President Donald Trump issues a new ultimatum to Hamas to immediately release all remaining hostages or be destroyed.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump writes on Truth Social.

“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he says.

“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”

“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he warns.

“I have just met with your former hostages whose lives you have destroyed.”

“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” Trump says.

“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER.”

US President Donald Trump has wrapped up a meeting at the White House with a group of eight released hostages.

The hostages line up in front of the Resolute Desk where he is sitting, with several of them offering brief messages to the president during the short meeting.

“You’ve been sent by god to release them. You can really help. You have the power to do it,” says Omer Shem Tov.

“You were our hope when we were there, and now you’re their hope,” says Naama Levy.

“So you didn’t think until I came along — you didn’t think you were........

© The Times of Israel