The last 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been released and reunited with their families, marking a pivotal step in the U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel also released 250 Palestinian prisoners and another 1,700 Gazans detained since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]Scenes of relief and celebration unfolded across Israel on Monday as families embraced loved ones they had not seen in more than two years. Twenty-eight bodies of deceased hostages are believed to still remain in Gaza, with some remains expected to be returned later today.
All freed hostages underwent medical assessments upon their return, with several airlifted to hospital in Tel Aviv for further care.
In Gaza, limited humanitarian aid has begun to enter as part of the cease-fire, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to what little remains of their homes in the north of the territory in recent days.
As the initial phase of the peace deal continues, these are the stories of the Israelis who have finally come home.
Omri Miran
The 48-year-old was abducted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, from the Nahal Oz Kibbutz where he owns a therapy studio and worked in construction.
He was reunited with family on Monday, including his wife, two daughters and father. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum shared photos of Miran with his wife and father upon his arrival.
“Dad Omri is home. After more than 700 long, painful, and agonizing days, Omri will finally receive from Roni and Alma a healing embrace,” said his family in a statement.
Gali Berman
Berman was taken from the home of former hostage Emily Damari in the Kfar Aza Kibbutz a few kilometers from the border with Gaza. While Damari remained in captivity for 471, Berman has now been released after 738 days.
The 28-year-old works as a light and sound technician and is a big supporter of the soccer teams Liverpool and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Berman and his twin brother Ziv were pictured hugging after his release this morning.
Ziv Berman
Ziv himself was also captured on Oct. 7, abducted from his home nearby to where his twin was taken in the Kibbutz of Kfar Aza.
“Our Gali and Ziv have come home, returned to our personal picture of triumph as they are embraced in the safe and protective arms of Talia, their heroic mother,” said the Berman family in a statement upon their return.
“After two years, we are breathing fresh air again. Feelings of fear, sadness, and longing were replaced in an instant with happiness we did not know was possible to feel.”
Alon Ohel
The 24-year-old was at the Nova Music Festival just outside of Gaza when he was abducted. Ohel is from the village of Levon in Upper Galilee.
When Hamas militants began firing at the festival, Ohel managed to enter a shelter in the nearby village of Re’im and repelled grenades thrown into the shelter alongside his friends.
Guy Gilboa Dalal
Dalal, from Alfei Menashe in the occupied West Bank, was also kidnapped at the Nova Music Festival. The 24-year-old was pictured hugging fellow hostage Evyatar David after their release Monday.
“This is a moment we have waited and longed for with anxiety, faith, and hope. Our Guy is with us,” said his family in a statement. “We hope that every family will reach this longed-for moment and receive their loved one home, including all the deceased for burial in the land of Israel.
Eitan Mor
The 25-year-old was at the Nova Festival when he was captured on Oct. 7, 2023. Also from an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Kiryat Arba, Mor is the eldest of seven siblings. On Monday, he was pictured reunited with his parents.
He was working as a security officer at the Festival when he was captured, and was said to be planning to open a restaurant prior to his abduction, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in December 2023.
Matan Angrest
Angrest, a sergeant major in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was taken while fighting as a tank driver. He is the only survivor among his tank group, as his two colleagues were killed and their bodies were taken to Gaza.
“We can breathe again. Our Matan is home. Our beloved boy has been returned to us after two complex years, and we are so proud of him,” Angrest’s family said in a statement upon his return.
The 22-year-old was filmed speaking over video call to former hostage Keith Siegel, who he spent time with during his captivity in Gaza.
Elkana Bohbot
The 36-year-old was captured at the Nova Festival where he was working as a logistics coordinator.
Bohbot has a five-year-old son Reem, and was pictured with his wife Rivka on Monday. “The man who is home to me has finally come back home to me, and most importantly, to Reem,” his wife said. “Elkana is home, in Israel, and I can’t believe we’re a family of three again.”
Maksym Harkin
Karin immigrated to Israel from Ukraine, settling in Tirat HaCarmel near Haifa, northern Israel. The 37-year-old has a daughter, and lived with his mother and younger brother prior to his capture at the Nova Festival.
“After two agonizing years of uncertainty, anxiety, and hope, Maksym has returned to us… From now on, he begins a journey of recovery, love, and rehabilitation. We will embrace him, wrap him in our care, and look forward soon to his reunion with his beloved daughter,” his family has said.
Ariel Cunio
Cunio, 28, was taken from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his partner, Arbel Yehoud, who was released in January 2025.
His brother David was also captured by Hamas militants alongside his family in the same Kibbutz.
“My Ariel is home, and I am overwhelmed with emotion and joy. For over two years, the hope of holding Ariel again is what sustained and drove me every single day,” his partner said in a statement.
David Cunio
The 35-year-old was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near southern Gaza, alongside his wife and twin daughters. Cunio’s wife and children were released after 52 days in Gaza.
The family of David and Ariel were pictured speaking with the brothers over the phone after their release. “Above all, my deepest gratitude goes to all the families who paid the heaviest price, and to all those who sacrificed their bodies and souls,” said Ariel’s partner after their release.
Eitan Horn
Horn was abducted from his brother Iair’s home in Nir Oz. Iair was also abducted, and released in early February as part of a previous cease-fire agreement.
39-year-old Horn immigrated to Israel from Argentina in 2002, and was pictured hugging his brothers Iari and Amos after his release.
“After 738 difficult and long days in Hamas captivity, Eitan is coming home to us. Now our nuclear family is complete,” his family said as they waited to see Horn in person. “Eitan has returned, but it is not enough. Only when the last hostage returns can we say we have fulfilled our mission and moral obligation.”
Matan Zangauker
Also kidnapped from Nir Oz, 25-year-old Zangauker was taken alongside his partner Ilana Gritzewsky, who was released 55 days after their capture.
The couple, alongside Zangauker’s mother Einav, were pictured reunited holding an Israeli flag containing the photos of all hostages released today and the 28 whose deceased bodies remain in Gaza.
“After two years of hell, today we begin a new chapter in our lives – one of healing and rehabilitation for Matan and for our family. Matan has been gone for two years, and there is a long road ahead for him and for us,” his family said after his release.
Bar Kupershtein
The 23-year-old from Holon, central Israel, was taken during the Nova Festival while working as an usher and served as a combat soldier in the IDF.
His father Tal was injured in 2019, losing the ability to speak and walk. But his father has since learned to walk so he could hug his son upon return.
“We cannot contain the excitement from the moment we heard the good news. Two years of an impossible journey, two years in which we did everything we could so that everyone would know who Bar is. Now everyone will get to truly know him,” the Kupershtein family said.
Evyatar David
David was another hostage taken while attending the Nova Music Festival. The 24-year-old was pictured with his arms around his parents after his release on Monday. “From the first moment, we knew he would return, and here, after two years of suffering, he is here. Now a new journey of healing will begin for Evyatar and for us,” his family said.
David was the subject of a Hamas video released in August in which he appeared severely emaciated and was digging a hole which he said would be his grave.
Avinatan Or
32-year-old Or is an electronics engineer who was also abducted at the Nova Festival. His partner, Noa Argamani, was rescued during an IDF operation
“We thank God for the great kindness in returning our beloved and dear son to us alive, whole, and healthy. Our Avinatan is home. After two full years of waiting and struggling for his return, he is home,” his family has said in a statement.
Yosef-Haim Ohana
Yosef grew up in Kiryat Malachi in southern Israel, and traveled across the country for work before his abduction at the Nova Festival.
We are filled with happiness for the privilege that has fallen to us to embrace Yosef-Haim again. Our hearts are with the families who have not yet had the chance to receive their loved ones,” said Avi Ohana, father of the 25-year-old.
Rom Braslavski
Braslavski is said to have saved dozens of people at the Nova Festival before his eventual capture, according to testimony from the Hamas attack. The 21-year-old was working as a security guard at the festival on Oct. 7. 2023.
Braslavski appeared in a Hamas video published earlier this year, looking emaciated.
Nimrod Cohen
One of the youngest hostages, Cohen was taken while manning a tank during battle with Hamas militants. The 21-year-old is from Rehovot in southern Israel. The rest of his tank battalion was killed in fighting, with their bodies taken to Gaza.
Cohen was pictured video calling his parents Viki and Yehuda on Monday morning after his release, and his friends were seen celebrating after seeing the call on Israeli television.
His mother had previously called the possible Israeli occupation of the entirety of Gaza a “death sentence” for her son and all remaining living hostages in early August.
Segev Kalfon
The 27-year-old from Dimona, southern Israel, was abducted at the Nova Festival alongside many other hostages that have been released Monday.
“Thank God our Segev is home. We want to thank and remember the brave people thanks to whom we have reached this moving day,” said his family in a statement, who also called for the return of the bodies of deceased hostages.
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