Families of seven American-Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza will attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington on January 20.

The families plan to meet with officials from the incoming administration and members of Congress during their three days in the US capital.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, they said: “The families are urging leaders to prioritise the safe return of their loved ones and to take decisive action to bring an end to their prolonged captivity”.

The announcement comes as Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden are working towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would free some of the nearly 100 hostages, dead and alive, who have been held there since Hamas abducted them on 7 October 2023.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Trump threatened: “If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.”

The President-elet also said on a recent podcast appearance that there will be “hell to pay” for Hamas if his demands are not met.

Parents of slain Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, are among those attending the ceremony.

The couple addressed the Democratic National Convention last August, speaking about the “anguish and misery” they have endured since their son was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7.

Last August – nearly 11 months after he was taken hostage by Hamas – Hersh was found dead in Gaza.

The Goldberg-Polins will be joined at Trump’s inauguration by the parents of hostage Edan Alexander, the parents and brother of hostage Omer Neutra, the parents of slain hostage Itay Chen, the father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, the daughter of murdered hostages Gad Haggai and Judi Weinstein, freed hostage Aviva Siegel and the daughter and sister of Aviva’s husband hostage Keith Siegel.