The last 20 remaining hostages from Gaza have returned home after two years of captivity. Thousands of people in Tel Aviv celebrated, crying and singing as they heard the news of the hostages' release. In the deal, nearly 2,000 prisoners from Israeli jails were released in exchange for the hostages.
The agreement also includes the return of the remains of 27 hostages who died in captivity and the remains of a soldier since 2014. In Ramallah, large crowds greeted the first buses of freed prisoners with shouts of joy and praise.
Everyone remembers that on October 7, 2023, 251 hostages were abducted by militants in an attack that killed more than 1,219 civilians. In the following years, some were gradually released, but 47 remained until the final agreement this October 2025.
For Gazans, the ceasefire is a great relief. However, many of their homes have been destroyed. “It’s like nothing is left, even my neighbor’s house is destroyed,” said Fatima Salem, 38. “But even though it’s in ruins, it still smells like home, so we’ll set up a tent here and wait for the rebuilding.”
Despite doubts about whether the ceasefire will last, leaders have expressed that everyone is tired of the war. This agreement is seen as a new beginning for both sides.
