All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza, a major step in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. The release ends more than two years of uncertainty for their families and marks a pivotal moment in the conflict .
The Israeli military confirmed the hostages are back on Israeli soil. They were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross before being escorted into Israel by the military and Shin Bet internal security agency . The former captives are now reuniting with their families and receiving medical care .
The hostage release triggers a large-scale prisoner exchange. Israel is releasing 1,968 Palestinian prisoners and detainees . This group includes 250 prisoners serving life sentences for serious crimes, and more than 1,700 Palestinians detained by Israel since the war began . The first buses carrying released Palestinians have arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in Gaza . Celebrations erupted in Ramallah, with families weeping and lifting their loved ones onto their shoulders . In Gaza's Khan Younis, thousands gathered in a square decorated with Palestinian flags, dancing and singing in a scene of rare joy after two years of war .
The emotional return of the Israeli hostages was witnessed by millions. Tens of thousands of people gathered in "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, watching the events on large screens . The crowd roared with approval as the releases were announced . For the families, the day brought a painful wait to an end. The family of Omri Miran, who was abducted in front of his wife and two children, called his return a "victory of an entire people" after more than 700 agonizing days . Before the final handover, Hamas allowed some hostages to make video calls to their families, leading to emotional, widely shared moments . In one video, Elkana Bohbot reassured his mother, saying, "Everything is fine, relax" .
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration brokered the Gaza ceasefire and his presence dominated the day. He arrived in Israel as the hostages were being freed . As his plane, Air Force One, flew over Tel Aviv, the crowd in Hostages Square chanted, "Thank you, Trump!" . Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump declared, "As far as I'm concerned, the war is over" . Later, at the Israeli parliament, Trump was lavished with praise. Netanyahu called him "the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House" . Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana compared Trump to the ancient Persian king Cyrus the Great, a figure revered in Jewish history for freeing captives .
The exchange is the first phase of a broader 20-point peace plan proposed by the Trump administration . The deal also includes the future handover of the bodies of 28 hostages who died in captivity . A multinational task force will be established to locate and retrieve these remains . The ceasefire has already allowed a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where a famine has been declared after two years of Israeli bombardment and blockade . Dozens of aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, but officials say the supplies are still a drop in the ocean for a population facing extreme deprivation .
World leaders are now gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a summit co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi . The summit aims to build on the ceasefire momentum and discuss the future of the region . Leaders from the UK, Germany, Turkey, Jordan, and the United Nations are among those attending . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially declined his invitation due to a Jewish holiday but later reversed his decision and will attend, according to Egyptian officials . Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to participate .
The path ahead remains complex. The second phase of the deal, still to be negotiated, will need to address the most challenging issues. These include the future governance of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and securing a lasting peace . For now, the focus is on the human stories of return. In Israel, families begin journeys of recovery. In Gaza and the West Bank, celebrations for returning prisoners are mixed with the overwhelming task of rebuilding a devastated territory . As one Gazan, Abu Omar Saleh, expressed, people want the war to end, once and for all. He said, "We've had enough of death, destruction, and living in tents" .