All 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released after more than two years in captivity, marking a major step in a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.
The hostages were returned to Israel on Monday, October 13, with the Israel Defense Forces posting photographs showing their reunions with family members. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the names of the released individuals.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is also expected to return the bodies of 28 hostages who died in captivity. In exchange, Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees.
The release comes following negotiations mediated by the United States and other countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. U.S. President Donald Trump, who was in Israel to witness the handover, declared that “the war is over” and announced plans for a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza.
The ceasefire marks a pause in hostilities that began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed hundreds and triggered a two-year war in Gaza. Previous attempts at peace had failed before the current multi-phase agreement.
This development brings hope for stability in the region, though the timeline for returning the deceased hostages remains unclear.
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