In a moment many Israelis had scarcely dared to hope for, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, ending nearly two years of captivity and paving the way for what leaders called a landmark cease-fire agreement.
The release required Israel to free 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in return — the most significant prisoner exchange since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that set off the long and bloody conflict. The exchange unfolded amid high drama and emotional reunions as families greeted loved ones who had been held for 738 days.
Scenes of joy across Israel
The freed hostages — all men under 50 — were reunited with family members Monday. In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, which had become the emotional focal point of nationwide vigils and rallies, thousands gathered to celebrate. People waved Israeli flags, sang the national anthem and shouted “Welcome Home.” Tens of thousands more watched public viewings across the country.
Many of the men appeared thin and shaken but offered faint smiles as they embraced relatives for the first time in more than two years. “It’s like waking up from a nightmare,” said one mother after her son’s return.
Israel begins releasing Palestinian prisoners
Following the hostages’ arrival, Israel began the stipulated release of 1,900 Palestinian detainees, who were transported into the West Bank amid cheering crowds. Israeli officials said the group included roughly 250 prisoners serving life sentences on murder and terrorism convictions and some 1,700 people who had been detained since October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities described the move as “painful but necessary” to secure the hostages’ freedom.
Hamas still holds the remains of 28 Israelis killed during captivity; those remains are to be returned under the terms of the agreement, though an exact timetable has not been disclosed.
Leaders praise the deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset he was “committed to this peace” and to safeguarding Israel’s security going forward.
President Donald Trump, traveling in the region, addressed the Knesset and received a standing ovation from many Israeli lawmakers as he spoke in Jerusalem. In his remarks he hailed the cease-fire, praised envoys involved in negotiations, and thanked Arab and Muslim nations for pressing Hamas to release the captives.
“Today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace,” President Trump said, calling the moment a turning point for the region. He commended the work of his envoy Steve Witkoff and lauded Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their roles in securing the deal, predicting the agreement would be remembered as the beginning of a new era.
Trump also publicly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to consider pardoning Prime Minister Netanyahu amid his ongoing corruption trial; Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing and called the cases politically motivated. Herzog has previously said the question of a pardon “weighs heavily on Israeli society.”
Hostages’ accounts and conditions
Debriefings and accounts from earlier released captives painted a grim picture of conditions in captivity: many were confined in underground tunnels, deprived of light and fresh air, given scant food and water, and subjected to physical and psychological abuse. One man who had been freed earlier described being held with three others in a roughly 120-square-foot shaft for more than 200 days where breathing was difficult and medical care effectively nonexistent.
A fragile but hopeful moment
President Trump was expected to travel to Cairo Monday afternoon for a summit with more than 20 Arab leaders to discuss Gaza’s future, reconstruction and the mechanics of a longer-term cease-fire and stabilization plan. The summit aimed to build on the momentum of the hostage exchange and outline steps toward reconstruction and governance in Gaza.
