- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the release of all 20 hostages held by Hamas as part of a landmark prisoner swap deal.
- After weeks of intense negotiations, the hostages were safely returned to Israel from Gaza on Monday, October 13.
- They were received by a medical team and airlifted to hospital for evaluation and reunion with their families
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Hamas has released all 20 living Israeli hostages as part of a historic prisoner exchange agreement between the two sides.
In a statement released on the morning of Monday, October 13, the Israel Defense Forces announced that the freed hostages had been safely returned to Israel from Gaza, ending weeks of tense and emotional standoffs that had attracted global attention.
According to the IDF, the freed hostages were immediately received by Israeli medical teams for initial health assessments and then transported by helicopter to various hospitals across the country for further treatment and reunion with their families.
The released prisoners included Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Omri Miran, who were the first to be released earlier in the day. Milan, 48, was abducted from her home in Nahar Oz on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack. Heartwarming photos shared by the military show him embracing his wife, Lisa, months after their separation.
In a separate statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the names of 13 other hostages released by Hamas, including Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Chaim Ohana and Bar Kupershtein, who was kidnapped while working at the Nova music festival.
Meanwhile, buses carrying dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run prisoners’ office. As part of the current ceasefire and exchange agreement, Israel will release more than 1,900 detainees.
