Hostage Square burst into song as the names of the freed Israeli hostages rang out over tannoy systems – a large screen airing live footage of them being handed over to Israeli troopsas part of a US-brokered peace deal
Huge crowds cheered and screamed with joy in downtown Tel Aviv yesterday as an outpouring of emotion rippled through Israel celebrating the release of 20 living hostages.
The now iconic Hostage Square burst into song as the names of the freed rang out over tannoy systems, a large screen airing live footage of them being handed over to Israeli troops. History was made as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were bussed home to Gaza, some exiled abroad, freed at last from Israeli jails as part of a US-brokered peace deal.
Tal, a young Israeli woman in Hostage Square, beamed as she viewed the screen, hearing the names of those released and saying: “This is the most wonderful day. We feared we may never see this day happen, our brothers and sisters being released after so long and so much suffering. What they have been through is unimaginable. Now we hope that this peace will last and that the hostages will receive the care they need to make their long journey to recovery, both physically and mentally.”
The 20 hostages had endured 738 days of captivity in tunnels and under constant bombardment from Israeli warplanes and the threat of execution by Hamas if they tried to escape. Although they appeared able to walk and many managed to smile or wave as they were freed, the hostages have lost a huge amount of weight and will need months, maybe years of care.
The first tranche of hostages were released in a batch of seven, handed over to the Red Cross and then driven to an Israeli-controlled part of the Gaza Strip, which lies in ruins. But by midday all 20 hostages were handed over.
After an emotional reunion with loved ones they were then taken by helicopter to hospitals in and around Tel Aviv for treatment and examination, special rooms awaiting them. Footage showed family members sobbing as they helped Tal Kupershtein stand for a few minutes to hug his son, Bar, after he was released from two years in captivity in Gaza.
Tal Kupershtein also worked with a physical therapist to partially regain his ability to speak, so that he could advocate for his son, he said. It was two years to the day since the October 7 attack according to the Hebrew calendar. In the square, which has been the site of hundreds of protests and rallies calling for the hostages’ release over the past two years of war, revelers popped champagne bottles and hugged.
More than 1,700 detainees from Gaza plus around 250 Palestinian prisoners, many of them life sentence servers, were pre-loaded into coaches as the releases from the Strip got underway. Once the last of the 20 Israeli captives were across the border the buses began the journey to Gaza and the West Bank and an unknown location from some freed Palestinians will be exiled abroad.
Hundreds cheered as some shaven-headed released prisoners arrived in Beitunia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The freed men flashed V-for-victory signs; some lifted up onto the shoulders of the crowd, while others sank into chairs nearby, exhausted.
Kamal Abu Shanab, a 51-year-old Fatah member from the West Bank town of Tulkarem, said: “It was an indescribable journey of suffering – hunger, unfair treatment, oppression, torture and curses — more than anything you could imagine.” His face gaunt, he said he lost 139 pounds in prison. Mr Shanab’s niece, Farah Abu Shanab, said: “We don’t recognise him. He’s not the person we knew. Our uncle doesn’t look like our uncle.”
This marks the next stage of the end of more than two years of war sparked on October 7 2023 when Hamas went on a killing spree, slaughtering some 1,200 in southern Israel. The war that ensued killed around 1,000 Israeli soldiers and more than 67,000 Gazan civilians, whilst as many as 11,000 are feared dead lying underneath rubbled buildings.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says the bodies of 60 Palestinians have been recovered from under the rubble of destroyed buildings and brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours. That brought the number of recovered bodies to 200 in the past four days since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect and Israeli troops pulled back from some parts of Gaza. By evening time in the region the Red Cross was en route to pick up some of the dead bodies of Israeli hostages.
But despite the releases of the living hostages a row broke out after Hamas Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the terror group reportedly said it will only hand over bodies of four captives. It was supposed to release the remains of 28, although it is also suspected that up to 15 cannot be located.
A statement by Hamas’s armed wing has identified the deceased captives being released as Guy Ilouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi and Daniel Perez. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum called it a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Several families of dead hostages were told by Israeli authorities yesterday that their loved ones’ bodies would not be returned today (Mon) or tomorrow (Tues), and that Israel would spare no effort to locate and return them. However, other sources had indicated that the majority of the dead hostages would be returned today or soon afterward.
The releases came as President Donald Trump jetted into Tel Aviv, addressing the Israeli Knesset and urged Israel to work toward peace. Under the deal, Israel is allowing a surge of food and aid supplies into famine-stricken Gaza.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK is ready to assist in monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza, offering the U.K.’s experience in Northern Ireland. Speaking at a summit in Egypt he said: “We stand ready in relation to monitoring the ceasefire and decommissioning Hamas capability and weaponry, and that’s drawing on our experience in Northern Ireland and the IRA, which we dealt with in particular in relation to decommissioning.”
An Egyptian official said 154 Palestinian prisoners were released and deported by Israel and arrived in Egypt at the Rafah crossing with Gaza. The freed prisoners were to be sent to third countries as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, said the official.
As Air Force One touched down in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport US President Donald Trump was cheered by Tel Aviv crowds. A tannoy voice screamed: “Thank you Mr President. Thank you President Trump,” before the American leader met with both Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
In his speech later to the Knesset Trump, bolstered by taking credit for the Gaza peace deal, mocked a serious corruption court case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged bribes. He declared, “Whether we like it or not, this has been one of the greatest wartime presidents … and cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?”
Trump told Israel it must work toward peace in the Middle East after two years of war against Hamas and skirmishes with Hezbollah and Iran. Mr Trump told MPs at the Israeli Knesset to urge its president to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu on corruption charges.
He claimed: “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change. Israel, with our help, has won all that they can by force of arms. You’ve won. I mean, you’ve won. Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”
Mr Trump promised to help rebuild ruined Gaza, urging Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence”. “After tremendous pain and death and hardship, now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down.”
Mr Trump even offered a gesture to Iran, where he ordered the bombing of three nuclear sites during the country’s brief war with Israel claiming: “the hand of friendship and co-operation is always open”.
Israeli politicians chanted Mr Trump’s name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation throughout the speech. Some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his “Make America Great Again” caps, although these versions said “Trump, The Peace President.”
Netanyahu hailed Trump “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House” and he promised to work with him going forward. “Mr President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace,” he said. “And together, Mr President, we will achieve this peace.”
Palestinian prisoners too showed signs of the rigours of imprisonment. His face gaunt and his head shaved, Abu Shanab’s family said they barely recognized him when he was released. He said he lost 139 pounds during 18 years in prison.
A Hamas spokesman welcomed Trump’s remarks that the war in Gaza is over. Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Hazem Kassem urged mediators and the international community to ensure that Israel won’t resume the war.
