Israel confirmed on Monday that the final 20 living hostages held in Gaza have been returned, ending two harrowing years of captivity.
The nation erupted in relief, grief, and cautious hope as families were reunited and wounds reopened.
The Foreign Ministry, in a series of posts on X, jubilantly declared: “Welcome home.”
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, crowds cheered and wept, chanting names and embracing loved ones with desperate gratitude.
The release came under a ceasefire deal and hostage‑exchange agreement mediated with U.S. involvement, following intense negotiations and international pressure. Israel, for its part, committed to freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
One hostage, Gali Berman, was among those handed over after years underground in Gaza’s tunnels.
Even as joy reigned, sorrow lingered, for 28 hostages confirmed dead, whose bodies are yet to be returned. The deal includes delivery of their remains as part of the agreement.
Donald Trump, who flew in for the occasion and helped facilitate the deal, told Israeli lawmakers that the war is over.
His speech in Jerusalem earned a standing ovation.
From Gaza to Israel, many streets stand in ruin, neighborhoods erased by conflict. A returning refugee, Fatima Salem, described her return to a neighborhood she barely recognized. “Nothing looked the same, the houses were gone,” she said.
On the diplomatic front, Trump is headed next to Egypt to co‑host a summit on Gaza’s future, with high stakes, disarmament, governance, and Israel’s withdrawals remain unresolved.
