After months of agonizing waiting, families across Israel can finally breathe. Hamas has released all 20 Israeli hostages in a landmark prisoner exchange with Israel that concluded early Monday, October 13.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the hostages crossed safely from Gaza into Israel, bringing an end to weeks of difficult negotiations and unbearable uncertainty for their families.
Medical teams were waiting at the border to assess the freed hostages before airlifting them to hospitals nationwide.
There, they’ll receive ongoing care and, most importantly, reunite with loved ones who’ve been desperate for their return.
The first group released included Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Omri Miran. All three were taken by helicopter to hospitals after initial health checks.
One of the most powerful moments came when 48-year-old Omri Miran finally embraced his wife, Lishay.
The IDF shared photos of the emotional reunion, Miran, who was taken from his Nahal Oz home during the October 7, 2023 attack, looked overwhelmed but physically stable.
The Israeli foreign ministry later identified 13 additional freed hostages, including Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, and Bar Kupershtein, who was captured while working at the Nova music festival.
On the Palestinian side, buses carrying dozens of prisoners arrived in Ramallah and Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Prisoners Office.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is releasing more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
