Eric Rubin Shares Emotional Reflections from Tel Aviv After Hostage Release

Former Baltimore County Resident Reflects on Hostage Release

October 14, 2025 | 6:00 PM ET

Eric Rubin, who moved from Owings Mills to Tel Aviv two years ago on the day after the Hamas invasion, shares his reflections on the historic release of 20 Israeli hostages and the newly signed ceasefire agreement.

Eric Rubin
Former Owings Mills Resident, now residing in Tel Aviv

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The Historic Day

October 13, 2025, marked a significant milestone as 20 living Israeli hostages returned home after more than two years in captivity. The release came as part of a ceasefire agreement that went into effect, with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump addressing the Knesset.

                    Key Moment: The anniversary of Eric Rubin’s move to Israel coincided with the hostage release, making it especially meaningful for him and the entire Jewish community.
                

Eric Rubin’s Perspective

“I couldn’t have thought of a better gift from President Trump, from Prime Minister Netanyahu, for the entire nation of Israel… it’s hard not to have tears in your eyes as you see parents reunited with their children.”

Rubin made Aliyah (return to the Jewish homeland) from Owings Mills to Tel Aviv on October 13, 2023
He credits the IDF soldiers who “fought like lions” to bring the hostages home
Over 1,000 Israeli soldiers lost their lives in efforts to rescue the 48 hostages
The exchange involved 20 living hostages for nearly 2,000 prisoners, including 250 with Israeli blood on their hands

Who Deserves Credit?

According to Rubin, credit should be shared among:

President Trump and his administration (Secretary Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff)
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ambassador Ron Dermer
The brave men and women of the IDF who deserve the most recognition

The Unfinished Business

While 20 living hostages returned, approximately 28 deceased individuals remain in Gaza. Hamas was supposed to return four bodies but has not yet done so, raising serious trust concerns about the agreement.

💭 Commentary by Josh Spiegel (98 Rock)

Josh Spiegel expressed skepticism about the long-term prospects of the peace deal:

“While much of the world celebrates this first phase accomplishment, I’m full of skepticism and pessimism… For the full deal to be sealed, Hamas needs to surrender control of Gaza and give up their arms. I think that any reasonable person knows they’re not going to do that.”

His concerns include:

Hamas’s fundamental mission is to exterminate the Jewish people
Giving up power and weapons would be a serious setback to their goals
Hamas has already been executing people and calling for destruction of Israel
The 20-point agreement’s success remains highly uncertain

Looking Forward

While celebrating the return of the hostages, both Rubin and Spiegel remain cautious about the future. President Trump’s team is continuing talks in Cairo with 20 nations, but the fundamental question remains: Can there be lasting peace with Hamas?

Eric Rubin’s view: Peace may be possible with moderate Muslim nations, but not with radical Islamic organizations like Hamas.