Armed Palestinian group Hamas on Monday released all 20 living Israeli hostages in its captivity, completing a crucial step in the Gaza peace deal. The hostages were released in two batches – of seven and 13 – and were handed over to the Red Cross.
The release of the hostages was part of the first phase of the Gaza peace deal signed off by Hamas and Israel.
The development means that Hamas now holds no living Israeli hostages who were taken captive by the Palestinian group during the October 7, 2023, attack. However, the bodies of 28 other hostages remain in the group’s hands. Reports, however, said the bodies are also likely to be handed over to Israel via the Red Cross later today, but it was not clear if all the bodies of deceased hostages will be released.
Hamas’s release of hostages has been confirmed by the Israeli military. The first of the seven released hostages were identified as Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Those released in the second batch included Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslabski, Segev Kalfon, Maxim Herkin, Bar Kupershtein, Eitan Horn, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Matan Zangauker and Nimrod Cohen. All 20 are now back in Israel, the military said.
It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. pic.x.com/qa1Lh4vhhv
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025
The development came as United States President Donald Trump’s plane landed in Tel Aviv. The US President, who played a crucial role in the striking of the Gaza peace deal between Hamas and Israel after a two-year-long conflict, was received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport. The duo then travelled together to the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, where the US President was due to deliver an address.
Trump is also due to be awarded the Israeli government’s highest civilian honour, the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, for his efforts that led to the deal, as part of which hostages held by Hamas, 20 of whom were believed to be alive, have been released.
On his way to Israel, Trump had declared that the “war is over” in Gaza. Trump also expressed his wish to visit Gaza. “I know it so well without visiting. I’d like to do it, I’d like to put my feet on it at least,” he said.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu leave together after the US President landed in Israel.
(Source: GPO VIA REUTERS) pic.x.com/ebeXmb667s
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2025
‘Welcome Home’
The release of the hostages was welcomed by everyone in Israel, especially their families.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has been campaigning for their release, has posted on social media: “Welcome Home! After 738 agonising days in captivity, Omri Miran, Matan Angrest, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Alon Ohel, and Eitan Mor are returning to us to the embrace of their families, who worked tirelessly for their release, to their friends, and to an entire nation that believed and fought for this day to come.”
“Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial. This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be whole,” it added.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis were camping at the Nova site to offer special holiday prayer services. The Nova site is where Hamas massacred many Israelis and took hundreds hostage during the October 7, 2023, attack.
In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel has also started to release 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees. The first of 38 buses carrying detainees has crossed into Gaza.