Hamas officially handed over the initial seven Israeli hostages, marking a long-awaited moment of relief for a nation on edge. The individuals were transferred directly to the Red Cross, initiating a secure journey to Israeli security forces. This crucial transfer allows the former captives to be immediately reunited with their families before traveling by helicopter to designated hospitals for specialized care.
Red Cross vehicles transport hostages held in Gaza. Pic: Reuters
Across Israel, tens of thousands of people gathered at public screenings, erupting in cheers as Israeli television channels confirmed the hostages were safe in the hands of the Red Cross. After more than two years in captivity, the immense relief felt by families and friends cannot be overstated.
Twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman embrace after their release. Pic: IDF
This handover constitutes the first step in a complex, high-stakes exchange. President Trump’s ceasefire agreement requires Hamas to release the remaining hostages believed to be alive, all men aged between and . The total number of captives initially taken during Hamas’s brutal October attack in was , with previously presumed dead. The remaining individuals have endured severe physical and psychological strain during their captivity underground.
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Matan Angrest, 22, is an Israeli army soldier who was taken from the Nahal Oz military base. Pic: BTHN
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Gali Berman, 28, was taken from Kfar Aza alongside his twin brother Ziv. They got kidnapped from their beds on a holiday while in pyjamas, according to their older brother Liran. Pic: BTHN
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Ziv Berman, 28, was taken from Kfar Aza while on holiday. He got kidnapped in his pyjamas, alongside his twin brother Gali, his older brother Liran told Sky News. Pic: BTHN
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Elkana Bohbot, 36, was taken from Nova festival. His wife said she tells their four-year-old son every day that his father will come back. Pic: BTHN
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Nimrod Cohen, 20, is an Israeli army soldier who was taken while protecting the area near Nirim kibbutz. His mother said his Rubik’s Cube was found in the burnt-out tank of his unit. Pic: BTHN
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Ariel Cunio, 28, was kidnapped from Nir Oz with his girlfriend Arbel Yehoud, who was released in January. Ariel is being held hostage with his brother David. Pic: BTHN
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David Cunio, 35, was taken from Nir Oz alongside his wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and their three-year-old twin daughters. They were released in November 2023 while David and his brother Ariel are still being held in Gaza. Pic: BTHN
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Evyatar David, 24, was taken from Nova festival. In August, Hamas released videos of him looking skeletal and apparently digging his own grave. Pic: BTHN
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Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, was taken from Nova festival. In August, Hamas published a video of him saying he is being held in Gaza City. Pic: BTHN
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Father-of-one Maxim Herkin, 37, was taken from Nova festival after being invited by friends at the last minute, according to The Times of Israel. Pic: BTHN
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Eitan Horn, 38, was taken from Nir Oz with his brother Iair, who was released in February. Iair said his life would be frozen until his brother and the other remaining hostages were released, The Times of Israel reports. Pic: BTHN
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Finance student Segev Kalfon, 27, was abducted from Nova festival as he tried to escape Hamas. His father told Israeli media that his son had been diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed medication for it a few weeks before he was abducted. Pic: BTHN
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Bar Abraham Kupershtein, 23, was working as a security guard at Nova festival. He was taken hostage after staying behind to provide first aid to the injured. Pic: BTHN
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Omri Miran, 48, was taken from his home in Nahal Oz in front of his wife and two daughters. He was seen in a video released by Hamas in April last year, sending love to his relatives and asking to be released. Pic: BTHN
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Eitan Abraham Mor, 25, was working as a security guard at Nova festival when he was taken. A released hostage said Eitan “lifted everyone’s spirits” and “never stops believing that everything will be okay”, his parents told Israeli media. Pic: BTHN
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Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25, was abducted while trying to help others at Nova festival. His family said they received a “clear” sign that he was still alive in February. Pic: BTHN
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Alon Ohel, 24, was taken from Nova festival. He is a talented pianist and was due to start studying music when he was abducted, his mother wrote in The Observer. Pic: BTHN
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Avinatan Or, 32, was taken from Nova festival alongside his girlfriend Noa Argamani, who was released in June 2024. She later said she was separated from Avinatan “at the moment of abduction”. Pic: BTHN
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Matan Zangauker, 25, and his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, were abducted from their home in Nir Oz. While Ilana was released in November 2023, Matan remains in Gaza. His mother wrote in Haaretz how she was hoping to hug her son soon. Pic: BTHN
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Rom Braslavski, 21, worked as a security guard at Nova festival. He was taken after saving several others, his family said. Pic: BTHN
Successfully completing this Israeli hostage release is a testament to the diplomatic pressure applied under the US-led peace plan. Upon completion of this phase, Israel is expected to reciprocate by releasing Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and Gazans detained following the October events. The successful initiation of the Israeli hostage release has significantly elevated hopes for de-escalation in the wider region.
The individuals named for this Israeli hostage release phase represent a cross-section of the trauma inflicted by the conflict. They include soldiers like Matan Angrest, Nova Festival security guards such as Bar Abraham Kupershtein, and civilians taken from their homes, like Omri Miran, . Many, including twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, were violently abducted from their beds during a holiday visit. Their stories, often featuring brief, distressing video releases during their captivity, have dominated global headlines.
Inside Israel, specialized teams have prepared “homecoming units” at medical centers like the Rabin Medical Center, focusing on “hostage medicine” to address their unique physical and psychological needs upon return.
The ceasefire began Friday, allowing aid into Gaza and displaced Palestinians to move back toward the devastated northern areas. Addressing reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump declared the diplomatic success, stating simply, “The war is over.” This assertion came as he arrived in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog greeted him as a hero. The President is scheduled to address Israel’s parliament, reflecting the profound political impact of his successful intervention.
Benjamin Netanyahu greets Donald Trump. Pic: AP
Ultimately, the war began with the Hamas attack on October , , which killed around people. Israel’s retaliation has tragically resulted in over casualties in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. More details on the broader implications of the peace agreement are available from The White House’s official press releases.
