🔗 Share this article

The declaration of an agreement expected to result in the freeing captives held in the Gaza Strip for more than 24 months has caused joy and relief across the nation.

An organization which has campaigned for the return of Israeli captives held in Gaza voiced “profound gratitude” for what it called an “historic breakthrough”.

The agreement—which still must be agreed upon Israel’s war cabinet—will see the release of 20 living hostages as well as the remains of 28 deceased captives in return for 250 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences in Israeli prisons and 1,700 detainees from the Gaza region.

So far, 148 captives have come back—largely through earlier truce agreements—51 sets of remains have been retrieved while eight hostages were freed by rescue.

Celebratory Moments at Hostages Square

Jubilant scenes have unfolded in Hostages’ Square located in Tel Aviv as hundreds of people gathered ahead of the agreement’s signing.

The gathering began clapping and moving to music beneath US and Israeli flags—one woman holding up a placard saying: “We love Trump.”

“It’s a magical day,” the woman said.

A different person, Yael, aged 50, wept as she watched the crowd dancing.

“I’m very excited—it’s such a relief,” she stated. “We must witness them come back home to their families.”

• REAL-TIME RESPONSE: Trump announces Gaza deal
• Joy and pain: Palestinians celebrate deal
• EXAMINATION: Major breakthrough, but war not over yet

Families Celebrate Using Pyrotechnics

The mother and sister of a captive Israeli Matan Zangauker set off fireworks to mark the announcement of his impending returned home.

“They are returning!... Matan is coming home!” Einav Zangauker said as she held her daughter.

Viki Cohen, the mother of Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen, shared online: “My child, you are coming home.”

The joy could be felt throughout the avenues of Tel Aviv following the announcement.

Freed Hostages Offer Prayers and Raise Glasses

Former British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari celebrated with another freed hostage Romi Gonen, uttering blessings of thankfulness, then cheering “To life”, meaning “to life”. She has been campaigning for the release of her companions, the Berman twins Gali and Ziv.

Their brother Liran Berman posted: “My Gali and Ziv, I love you so much. You are coming back.”

The cousin of Gil Dickman Carmel Gat was captured on 7 October 2023, and her body found in an underground passage in Gaza almost a year later. He has been joining other hostage families in pushing for an agreement which ensures the return of everyone still detained in Gaza.

“I hardly believe this is actually happening. We’ve been waiting for so long and here it is,” he expressed.

He said he felt “broken” that Carmel would not be among those returning to their homes but was “glowing with joy” for the relatives of the hostages who are at last coming back.

Eitan Horn was taken from Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel along with his brother.

Guarded Hope from Family Members

Dalia Cusnir, whose brother-in-law Eitan Horn remains captive in Gaza, remarked she felt as if she were in “a dream state”.

“We are immensely thankful to President Trump and everything he has done on our behalf. We feel that this could be the start of the conclusion of this nightmare, and embracing Eitan seems nearer than ever,” she said.

But she cautioned that it was still too soon to rejoice.

“Until the last hostage is here, we’re not opening the bubbly. We’re going to keep fighting... until the end,” she said.

“Numerous events can happen until the last moment which is why we’re being so, so careful. We just want to express gratitude to all who participated in the efforts and ensure this deal is finalized... We shall rejoice only once the last captive is safely home.”

Eitan was taken from Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel together with his sibling Iair, who was released from detainment in a ceasefire deal earlier this year.

Related Developments

• ‘Historic chance’: World reacts to initial phase of Gaza peace deal
• Known details regarding the ‘initial stage’ of the Gaza accord

Israel-Gaza war | Israel | Hamas