Freedom After 738 Days: Gaza Hostage Release Sparks Hope and Fragile Peace

Israel celebrates the release of the hostages.

TEL AVIV — At 8 a.m. Monday, Gali and Ziv Berman, brothers abducted from their kibbutz in 2023, stepped off a Red Cross van into their parents’ arms. By 10 a.m., all 20 surviving Israeli hostages were free, ending a 738-day nightmare. In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. It’s a historic breakthrough—but the ceasefire teetering on this deal could reshape the Middle East or collapse under its own weight.

The Reunions

In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, crowds waved Israeli flags and wept as news broke. “I never stopped believing,” said Yoni Miran, whose son Omri, 48, was among those freed. The hostages—snatched during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200—endured brutal captivity. Some, like soldier Matan Angrest, 22, appeared gaunt in Hamas videos but walked out alive. X posts captured the joy: one viral clip shows Ziv Berman grinning, whispering, “We’re home.”

Across the border, Palestinian families celebrated as prisoners, including 250 lifers convicted of attacks on Israelis, returned to the West Bank and Gaza. “My brother’s back, but our home’s gone,” said Amina, 34, in Rafah, reflecting Gaza’s grim toll: 67,000 killed, 170,000 injured since the war began, per the local health ministry.

The Deal

This is Phase 1 of a 20-point U.S.-brokered ceasefire, sealed after months of talks involving Egypt and Qatar. Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of Gaza, letting displaced Palestinians trickle north to rebuild amid rubble. Aid trucks—400 in the last 24 hours—are rolling through Rafah. In Jerusalem, President Trump, fresh off a fiery Knesset speech, called it the end of an “age of terror,” crediting his team’s pressure on Iran, Hamas’s key backer. He’s now headed to an Egypt summit to lock in next steps.

But not everyone’s cheering. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is “shocked” that only 4 of 28 deceased hostages’ bodies were returned Monday, with the rest still in limbo. “This isn’t closure,” a spokesperson said.

What’s Next?

The deal’s fragile. Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s governance remain unresolved, with Israel demanding a demilitarized zone and Hamas pushing for reconstruction funds. The UN’s Kaja Kallas hailed the release as a “milestone,” pledging $2 billion in aid, but analysts warn a single misstep—like a border skirmish—could unravel it. Gaza’s 2 million displaced face a long road, and X chatter already flags fears of renewed violence.

For now, the focus is on healing. At Sheba Medical Center, hostages are getting checkups while families plan quiet reunions. In Gaza, aid trucks bring hope, but Amina’s words linger: “Peace feels like a dream we can’t afford.” As leaders gather in Egypt, the world’s watching—can this hold, or is it just a pause.

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