The Israeli military confirmed a major development on Monday: all 20 remaining living hostages, previously held captive by Hamas, are now back in Israel. This release is a crucial component of a broader ceasefire agreement, which brings a pause to a two-year conflict that has severely impacted the territory, claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, and left many in militant custody.
Details of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and ongoing peace efforts are being closely monitored.
The release unfolded in stages throughout Monday, with seven individuals freed in the morning and the remaining thirteen following later in the day.
All twenty released individuals are now being reunited with their eager families and are set to receive comprehensive medical evaluations.
Further components of the agreement include the expected repatriation of the bodies of 28 deceased hostages, though the precise timeline for this transfer has not yet been established.
Scenes of immense joy erupted in Tel Aviv squares as families and friends, alongside tens of thousands of Israelis watching public screenings nationwide, celebrated the news that the first group of hostages was safely with the Red Cross.
Initial images released by Israel depicted emotional homecomings, notably a poignant moment of 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman, separated during captivity in Kfar Aza, embracing upon their reunion.
While appearing pale, the initial seven hostages released on Monday seemed to be in better physical condition than some of those repatriated earlier in January.
Concurrently, Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of their own prisoners held by Israel. In the West Bank, tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed by an Israeli armored vehicle, dispersing a crowd gathered near Ofer Prison as drones monitored from above.
This forceful response came after a flyer circulated, cautioning against supporting “terrorist organizations” and threatening arrest. The Associated Press reported obtaining the flyer on site, but the Israeli military offered no comment regarding its contents.
Despite lingering uncertainties surrounding the future of Hamas and Gaza, this significant exchange of captives has ignited widespread optimism for an end to the protracted and devastating conflict between Israel and the militant faction.
A critical aspect of the ceasefire is the anticipated increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, a region where severe famine conditions are currently prevalent.
U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to the region to engage in discussions with other leaders regarding the proposed deal and strategies for the post-war period.
The conflict originated with a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This assault tragically resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Israel’s subsequent offensive has led to the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-administered government, states that roughly half of these casualties were women and children. The United Nations and numerous independent experts generally consider these figures to be the most dependable estimates for wartime losses.
It is anticipated that the casualty count will continue to rise as recovery efforts proceed to extract bodies from debris in areas previously unreachable due to intense combat.
The conflict has devastated vast areas of Gaza, displacing approximately 90% of its two million inhabitants. Furthermore, it has ignited broader regional conflicts, provoked global protests, and led to allegations of genocide, which Israel consistently refutes.