Hamas released seven Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in northern Gaza, ending two years of captivity and igniting nationwide celebrations.
Israeli media identified the freed hostages as Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dallal. Hamas captured them during its October 2023 attack, which triggered the war. Their release followed a breakthrough ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Thousands of Israelis gathered at public screenings to watch the handover. As the Red Cross collected the hostages, crowds in Tel Aviv and other cities erupted in cheers. The Israeli military will escort the hostages to the Reim base, where they will reunite with their families. Although officials have not disclosed their condition, they confirmed all seven are alive.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. These include 250 individuals serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees held without charge. Authorities plan to return them to Gaza, the West Bank, or send them into exile.
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and the missing, announced that an international task force will search for the remains of 28 hostages still unaccounted for.
The hostage release marks a pivotal moment in the Israel-Hamas war. Weekly demonstrations demanding their freedom had become a national ritual. Israelis wore yellow pins and ribbons to show solidarity.
Furthermore, the ceasefire allows humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, where famine and displacement have devastated communities. Trump and other global leaders will visit the region to discuss postwar recovery and future peace efforts.
