All 20 Living Hostages Released After 2 Years’ Captivity Following Israel and Hamas Ceasefire Deal

All 20 remaining living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have returned to Israel, ending more than two years of captivity amid the ongoing conflict.

On the morning of Monday, Oct. 13, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared photographs on Facebook showing the freed hostages reuniting with their families after 738 days apart.

“It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity,” the IDF announced.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed the names of the 13 individuals released in the second group: Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Maxim Herkin, Bar Kupershtein, Eitan Horn, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Matan Zangauker, and Nimrod Cohen.

The first group of seven — Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Matan Angrest — had been freed earlier that same day.

The bodies of 28 deceased hostages are also expected to be returned under the terms of a ceasefire agreement that has paused more than two years of war, according to the Associated Press. However, a timeline for their repatriation has not yet been confirmed.

The news coincided with President Donald Trump’s arrival in Israel on Monday, where he declared “the war is over” following the peace deal between Israel and Hamas, as reported by the BBC.

Speaking aboard Air Force One ahead of his address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Trump said the ceasefire would hold and that a “Board of Peace” would be established for Gaza, which he described as looking like a “demolition site,” according to the outlet.

In exchange for the hostages’ release, Israel agreed to free 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees, the BBC reported.

Trump had announced on Oct. 8 that both sides reached an agreement for a ceasefire and the full release of Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, along with Israel’s withdrawal from most of Gaza.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”

He added: “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

Following cabinet approval, Hamas was given 72 hours to release the 20 surviving hostages and 28 deceased individuals, according to terms reported by Israeli press agency TPS-IL on Oct. 9.

The ceasefire comes shortly after the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel — the assault that sparked the war in Gaza. That attack saw Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, launch a surprise offensive on southern Israel, killing hundreds and taking at least 150 hostages.

In response, Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip, leading to devastating consequences. According to NPR, roughly 11% of Gaza’s population has been killed or injured since the war began. The destruction fueled accusations of genocide and a global surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Several attempts at peace had failed before Israel and Hamas agreed to a multi-phase plan in January aimed at ending hostilities. However, in March — before Israel was set to withdraw all forces from Gaza — the ceasefire collapsed after new Israeli airstrikes resumed.

Israel and Iran later agreed to their own ceasefire on June 23, ending a 12-day exchange of airstrikes.

Israel initially launched attacks on Iran on June 13, citing concerns that the country was developing nuclear weapons, though Iran denied those claims. The conflict escalated until June 21, when the United States intervened by striking three Iranian nuclear sites. Two days later, a ceasefire was reportedly reached to end fighting between Israel and Iran.