Israel marked a day of national relief and celebration on Monday as all twenty surviving hostages held by Hamas were released, ending an ordeal that lasted 738 days. The final group of hostages crossed from Gaza into Israeli military care in the early hours, following the arrival of an earlier convoy that brought home seven Israelis, among them Alon Ohel, Gali and Ziv Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Matan Angrest, Eitan Mor, and Omri Miran. Each of the returnees was greeted at an Israel Defense Force (IDF) reception centre near the Gaza border, received medical and psychological care, and was soon to be reunited with their families before transfer to hospitals in Tel Aviv and Beersheba.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the country: “embraces our hostages returning home,” emphasising the sense of unity and relief felt by families and citizens nationwide. Reception packs for the freed captives included personal items, clothing, a laptop, a mobile phone, a tablet, and a handwritten note from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, which read: “On behalf of the entire people of Israel, welcome back! We have been waiting for you. We embrace you.”

This return is the first step of: “Operation Shavim Legvulam,” a wider agreement brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. Under its terms, Israel will release approximately 2 000 Palestinian terror detainees, 250 long-term prisoners and about 1 700 detained during the war. For every deceased hostage returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 Palestinians.

The agreement also includes phased Israeli withdrawals from major Gazan cities and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the territory. Specialised medical teams, psychological counsellors and a dedicated welfare hotline have been mobilised to care for the hostages and their families, with the government thanking the Red Cross and mediators for their role in the deal.

United States (US) President Donald Trump landed at Ben Gurion Airport soon after the first group of hostages was freed. On the tarmac, he was greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, alongside President Isaac Herzog and senior ministers. After the national anthems, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his role in brokering the ceasefire and the release of the hostages. Trump has said: “The war is over… This is a new beginning,” commending the courage of the hostages and calling the agreement a milestone for regional stability. The US president is due to address the Knesset soon, before flying to Sharm el-Sheikh for an Egypt-hosted summit to cement the terms of the truce.

Monday’s developments have provided a rare moment of hope and national unity, even as attention shifts to the next stages of the ceasefire agreement. With “Operation Shavim Legvulam” underway, the Israeli government faces the dual task of supporting returning hostages and managing the complex implementation of the deal’s remaining terms. The day’s events are widely seen as a turning point, both for the hostages and for the country’s political leadership as it seeks to rally support for peace and stability.