Breaking News: After more than two years in captivity, Hamas has released the last living Israeli hostages held in Gaza as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. The release, which occurred on Monday, October 13, marks a major turning point in the region’s long and brutal conflict.
In a peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, a ceasefire was followed by the return of the Israeli hostages.
A Historic Ceasefire and a Moment of Relief
A total of 20 hostages were freed under the terms of the agreement negotiated by the United States and international mediators. Seven of them returned to Israel separately, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer organization dedicated to securing the safe return of abductees.
“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,” President Donald Trump declared during a more than 40-minute address to the Israeli Knesset, emphasizing that this release was part of a broader effort “to end two years of war and bring lasting peace.”
Emotional Reunions Across Israel
Following their release, families gathered in hospitals and military bases to welcome their loved ones back home. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency confirmed that all 20 hostages had returned to Israeli territory, where they are undergoing medical evaluations after 738 days in captivity.
