After Two Years, Hamas Releases 20 Hostages Under Ceasefire Agreement
On October 13, 2025, Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza for 738 days, under the terms of a ceasefire deal brokered by the United States. This move marks the full return of all surviving captives and is being hailed in Israel as a moment of both relief and grave reflection.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer group advocating for abductees in Gaza, confirmed that seven of the freed hostages have already been returned to Israel. The remaining 13 were escorted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) over the border, where they will undergo medical assessments and reunions with their families.
Who Was Freed
The 20 individuals released include a mixture of civilians, technicians, festivalgoers, and soldiers. Several were abducted during the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which targeted the Nova music festival and nearby border communities.
Some of the notable names among the released:
Alon Ohel (24), a pianist, abducted from the Nova festival.
Ariel Cunio (28), taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and brother to David Cunio.
Avinatan Or (32), Bar Kupershstein (23), and Evyatar David (24), all taken from the Nova festival.
Gali Berman and Ziv Berman (both 28), twin brothers from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, who worked as technicians.
Matan Angrest (22), a soldier pulled from his tank near the Gaza border.
Matan Zangauker (25), taken from his home in Nir Oz (his partner had been freed in a previous deal). He has muscular dystrophy, which made his captivity especially perilous.
Nimrod Cohen (20), a lone survivor after his tank was attacked; Omri Miran (48) from Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
Rom Braslavski (21) and Segev Kalfon (27), both captured at the Nova festival.
Many of the women and children initially abducted with David Cunio had already been released in November 2023, leaving David himself among those freed today.
A Fragile Moment of Closure
The return of all surviving hostages caps one of the most painful chapters of the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict. The October 7, 2023 attack had resulted in more than 200 people being taken hostage, a traumatic event that galvanized Israel and global attention.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel also agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, in many cases serving long sentences.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in parliament, announced that Israel is committed to peace under the deal and said that with the help of U.S. mediation, “we are fulfilling the promise” to bring captives home. U.S. President Donald Trump—who traveled to Israel on the same day—declared that the war is over and received warm public acknowledgment in Israel for his role in negotiating the deal.
However, the broader peace is precarious. Hamas has handed over only four out of 28 bodies of deceased hostages, a discrepancy that has drawn sharp criticism by Israeli officials and families. Questions linger about how long the ceasefire can last, whether Hamas will truly disarm, and who will govern Gaza going forward.
The Road Ahead
The return of the 20 hostages brings relief to families and a major symbolic victory for Israel. But for many, it does not mean the conflict is resolved. The released hostages will require extensive medical and psychological care after years in captivity.
Meanwhile, both sides and international mediators face the urgent task of ensuring that the ceasefire holds, that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, and that negotiations can begin on Gaza’s future — including governance, security, and reconstruction.
For now, the release is being mourned and celebrated simultaneously: mourned for those still missing or lost, and celebrated as a glimmer of hope in one of the region’s most bitter protracted conflicts.