Jerusalem, 13 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — All 20 living hostages are back in Israel after the last round left the Gaza Strip on Monday afternoon, ending 738 days in captivity, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said. But the joy was tempered by uncertainty over the remains of 28 more hostages who died in captivity.
Matan Zangauker, Maxim Herkin, Segev Kalfon, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Nimrod Cohen, Avinatan Or, Evyatar David, Eitan Horn, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Elkana Bohbot, Bar Kupershtein and Rom Braslavski arrived in southern Israel for initial medical checkups and reunions with their families.
Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Engerst, Omri Miran and Alon Ohel were freed in the first round of releases.
“This is a moment we’ve waited and hoped for with anxiety, faith, and anticipation—our Guy is with us,” Dalal’s family said. “We hope every family will soon experience this long-awaited moment and welcome their loved ones home, including the return of all the fallen for burial in the Land of Israel.”
The announcement came as U.S. president donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Trump is scheduled to address the Knesset before leaving for Egypt, which is hosting a summit of regional and international leaders on Gaza’s future. According to Israeli media reports, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi invited Netanyahu to attend the conference as Trump listened in on the phone call.
Unconfirmed Israeli media reports also said that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit Israel on Tuesday.
The remains of the deceased hostages are expected to be released in several hours. However, this has been complicated by Hamas’ claim that it cannot account for all the remains. Israeli authorities do not know how many bodies will be returned. The remains of the deceased hostages will be taken to the National Forensic Institute for identification and to confirm causes of death. Officials at the center cautioned that the identification process could take hours, or more than one day depending on the complexity of each case.
Then, Israel will release some 250 Palestinian security prisoners. According to the arrangement, 250 of the remaining 303 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons will be released, along with 1,700 detainees captured in Gaza since the war began, including all women and children. For each slain hostage returned by Hamas, Israel will release the remains of 15 Gazans it holds. Israel will ultimately release around 2,000 Palestinians, including some 1,700 from Gaza detained during the course of the war.
The initial phase of the agreement calls for a partial Israeli withdrawal, leaving its forces in control of just over half of Gaza.
Israel insists that Hamas be disarmed and have no role in governing post-war Gaza. The Iran-backed terror group violently seized control of the Strip from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. To prevent weapons smuggling, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade.
Sundown marks the beginning of the Simchat Torah holiday, which is also the Hebrew anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack. Around 1,200 people were killed that day and 252 Israelis and foreigners were abducted.
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